What exactly are SULFITES which are in wines?!
What exactly are SULFITES which are in wines?
I see this on all wine bottles but have not clue what this is, good or bad. Can anyone clarify for me? Thanks!
Answers:
All wines contain sulfites.
Sulfites are created naturally as a byproduct of fermentation in the wine-making process, and they have also been added by wine makers for thousands of years as a natural preservative.
Unfortunately, a very tiny proportion of people are allergic to sulfites, a dangerous and potentially fatal allergy.
Sulfite-sensitive individuals who have survived into adulthood know what they must avoid, a list that includes wine, fruit juice, sausages, salad bars and many other foodstuffs that routinely use sulfiting in production.
Although the threat is small, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required since 1987 that all foodstuffs containing more than 10 parts per million of sulfites -- which includes virtually all wines -- must bear a warning label.
Wines made in the U.S. may contain as much as 350 parts per million, an extreme level, rarely attained except perhaps in cheap jug wines, at which point the sulfur may be perceptible as a pungent aroma resembling a burnt match. (Some processed foods, in contrast, contain up to 6,000 parts per million.)
Best wishes!