About
Golden raisins are mechanically or artificially dried grapes — most commonly the Thompson Seedless or Sultana variety — treated with sulfur dioxide (SO₂) to prevent oxidative browning and preserve their characteristic light golden color. They are used as a naturally sweet ingredient in baked goods, cereals, trail mixes, salads, and confections.
Safety summary
Golden raisins are broadly safe for the general adult population and provide natural sugars, dietary fiber, iron, and potassium. The principal safety concern is residual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from processing, which can range from approximately 250 to 4,000 ppm and poses a risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions in sulfite-sensitive individuals, particularly asthmatics. Regulatory agencies in the US, EU, and India require mandatory labeling of sulfites above defined threshold levels; multiple FDA recalls have been issued for golden raisins marketed without sulfite declarations.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Approved as a whole food (dried fruit/sultanas) under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. Sulfur dioxide (E220) is listed as a permitted additive for dried grapes/sultanas with a specified maximum residual level. Mandatory E-number labeling of E220/sulfites applies wherever added.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Golden raisins are regulated as a dried fruit under section 2.3.47 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. FSSAI's official analytical manual specifies dedicated SO₂ test methods for golden raisins, reflecting their recognized status as an SO₂-treated product.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Approved as a whole food (dried fruit). Under 21 CFR 101.100(a)(4), added sulfiting agents must be declared on the label whenever present at ≥10 ppm in the finished product. FDA Import Alert 99-21 (updated 2023-07-28) authorizes detention without physical examination of golden raisins bearing undeclared added sulfiting agents. Multiple product recalls have been issued for non-compliant labeling.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1other. Method for Reducing the Amount of Sulfur Used to Produce Golden Raisins (USDA/FAO AGRIS). agris.fao.org
- 2FDA. Sunco & Frenchie Issues an Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in Golden Raisins, 2024. fda.gov
- 3FDA. Import Alert 99-21: Detention Without Physical Examination of Food Products Containing Undeclared Added Sulfiting Agents, 2023. accessdata.fda.gov
- 4FDA. Deep Foods Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sulfites In 'Deep Golden Raisins', 2019. fda.gov
- 5PubMed. Food safety risk assessment for estimating dietary intake of sulfites in the Taiwanese population, 2017. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6FSSAI. Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods: Fruit and Vegetable Products (FSSAI, 2016), 2016.
