Sulfur is a chemical element with chemical symbol S and atomic number 16. It occurs naturally in many foods, and is also used, in sulfur dioxide (SO2), as a food additive with preservative properties.
In molasses, sulfur is sometimes added when molasses is made with green sugar cane. "Unsulfured molasses" is typically made with ripe
Many tropical and stone fruits, including apricots, papayas, and pineapples, are treated with sulfur dioxide when they are dried, in order to preserve their bright color.
Wine making depends on the use of sulfur dioxide to stop the progress of fermentation. The introduction of a small amount of sulfur dioxide (sometimes called metabisulfite or simply sulfite) to a vat of wine reduces the available oxygen and inhibits bacterial growth, stopping the fermentation of the wine at a desired level of alcohol and sweetness.