Labeling of Sulfites in Alcohol Beverages

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that sulfating agents are human allergens that can have serious health implications for persons who are allergic to sulfites, particularly asthmatics, and, as a result, FDA regulations require food labels to declare the presence of sulfites if there are 10 parts per million (ppm) or more of a sulfating agent in a finished food product. Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act) at 27 U.S.C. 205(e), the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue regulations requiring alcohol beverage labels to provide “adequate information” to consumers regarding the identity and quality of such products. Under that FAA Act authority and consistent with FDA’s food labeling requirements, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) alcohol beverage labeling regulations in 27 CFR part 4 (wine), part 5 (distilled spirits), and part 7 (beer) require a declaration of sulfites on the labels of alcohol beverages released from domestic bottling premises or customs custody when sulfites are present in such products at levels of 10 or more ppm. This label disclosure is necessary to protect sulfite-sensitive consumers from products that potentially could be harmful to them.

The latest form for Labeling of Sulfites in Alcohol Beverages expires 2022-10-31 and can be found here.