Sulfite allergy/intolerance in bf baby - is it possible?

[sjworthington]

DD2 is 6 months and has numerous food intolerances including dairy and soy.  She's been super fussy today and I know that we've both eaten only previously considered "safe" foods.  Is it possible that sulfite (such as that used in preserving dried fruit) could be passing to her through my milk and causing a reaction?  I made a dairy free fruit cake this weekend and ate rather a lot of it... 

Thanks in advance
Sarah 

[mum101]

anything seems possible!
might have to try eliminating, then adding on it's own to find out.
sulphites can cause some reactions.

[sjworthington]

Thanks mum101,

I hadn't eaten dried fruit for ages so it really seems like too much of a coincidence that she gets fussy just as I eat loads of it.  Will cut it out of my diet again - sigh... guess DH will get to eat the fruit cake!

[Mom to M&M]

They do make sulfite free dried fruit - it's the only kind we buy! Not as pretty but tastes good and I feel better about putting it in our bodies.

[mum101]

I have heard, though not yet seen, that health food shops offer sulphite free dried fruit.

[sjworthington]

I normally try and buy sulfite free fruit for DD1, just because I think it's healthier, but I'd never even considered that it could be passed through breast milk to DD2.  That fruit cake is calling out to me!

[EloysH]

Definantly. I know many babies on another forum who have sensitivites to a whole host of food additives and preservatives  Sulphites as you know cause strong reactions in adults - hayfever type symptoms, asthma flares, upset tummy, lethargy.   Food chemicals definantly cross over into the breastmilk.  

 My DS2 is sensitive to several additives and preservatives, whilst we never tested sulphites he turned up positive to others so in the end it was easier just to exclude them all from my diet instead of labour through many food challenges.