The Maraschino Cherry on Top of Your Sundae Is Full of Sulfur Dioxide

Why do restaurants just assume you want the cherry on top? A Maraschino Cherry is a preserved cherry with all sorts of bad stuff in it. The cherries are first preserved in a brine solution which contains sulfur dioxide and calcium chloride to bleach the cherry, then soaked in food coloring (red dye), sugar syrup, and other "components." Doesn't sound very appetizing to me. I rank Maraschino Cherries right up there with fruitcake -- disgusting!

Cherry or not? Let me know in the Facebook thread.