An exposure assessment was performed to estimate usual daily intake of sulphites in the Belgian adult population. Food consumption data were retrieved from the national food consumption survey. In a first step, individual food consumption data were multiplied with the maximum permitted use levels for sulphites, expressed as sulphur dioxide, per food group (Tier 2). In a second step, on the basis of a literature review of the occurrence of sulphites in different foods, the results of the Tier 2 exposure assessment and available occurrence data from the control programme of the competent authority, a refined list of foods was drafted for the quantification of sulphite. Quantification of sulphite was performed by a high performance ion chromatography method with eluent conductivity detector in beers and potato products. Individual food consumption data were then multiplied with the actual average concentrations of sulphite per food group, or the maximum permitted levels in case actual levels were not available (partial Tier 3). Usual intakes were calculated using the Nusser method. The mean intake of sulphites was 0.34 mg/kg bw/day (Tier 2), corresponding with 49 % of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and 0.19 mg/kg bw/day, corresponding with 27 % of the ADI (partial Tier 3). The food group contributing most to the intake of sulphites was the group of wines. The results showed that the intake of sulphites is likely to be below the ADI in Belgium. However, there are indications that high consumers of wine have an intake around the ADI.