Sodium bisulphite (E222)

No. Sodium bisulphite (E222) is not one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as processed or ultra-processed, so on its own it doesn't raise a product's NOVA group.

What it is

Antioxidants are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by oxidation, such as fat rancidity and colour changes.

A product that contains it can still be ultra-processed for other reasons: 27 of the 34 products here that contain sodium bisulphite (E222) (79%) are in group 4 because of other ingredients or additives.

Function

Antioxidant: Antioxidants are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by oxidation, such as fat rancidity and colour changes.
Preservative: Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about sodium bisulphite (E222) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Sodium bisulphite (E222) appears in 34 of the 40,000 products on this site (0%).

Instant mashed potatoes 7 of 25 products
Fish gratin 5 of 16 products
Mixed vegetables 3 of 56 products
Blackcurrant soft drinks 2 of 9 products
Fruit juice concentrates 2 of 12 products
Mashed potatoes 2 of 41 products

Products containing sodium bisulphite (E222)

How the NOVA classification works