HEALTH : FDA Bans Sulfites on Potatoes

WASHINGTON —  The Food and Drug Administration announced a ban today on sulfites on fresh potatoes because the preservatives can trigger potentially fatal allergic reactions.

The ban, which goes into effect in 30 days, primarily affects restaurants and restaurant suppliers, which use sulfites to keep peeled potatoes white and firm. The ban follows a 1986 prohibition of sulfites on the fruit and produce in salad bars.

The FDA has received nearly 1,000 complaints of adverse reactions to sulfites since 1985, officials said. Although most of the reactions were mild, there have been four deaths after the consumption of sulfite-treated potatoes in restaurants, an FDA statement said.