QUESTION: Why do I start to wheeze in restaurants?
ANSWER: You may have what we call “Restaurant Asthma” which is caused by a reaction to sulfites that are often added to commercial food preparations. Sulfites are effective antibacterial preservatives that extend the shelf life of foods and prevent spoilage and discoloration. Sulfites are routinely added to raw shrimps, wine, dried fruits, and vinegar.
We suspect that some people with asthma lack the enzymes to break down sulfites efficiently.
