Durban - Sulphites are funny little critters because often they are blamed for hangovers. As it happens, this is not entirely fair, but then it is always easier to blame something else than face the truth.
The issue arises from a reader wanting to know what sulphites do, as she has seen on many wine labels the statement that the product “contains sulphites”. Specifically, she wants to know if sulphites are found only in cheaper wines or do expensive wines also have them?
“Are sulphites a bad additive and is it better to obtain a wine without sulphites… and do some wines contain a higher percentage than others?” were her questions.
The answer is that sulphites naturally occur in all wines; they are commonly introduced to arrest fermentation and may be added to wine as a preservative to prevent oxidation. Sulphur dioxide protects wines from oxidation and bacteria, meaning that without sulphites, grape juice would convert to vinegar.
Including that information on the label probably relates to new labelling laws that require producers fully to inform consumers of what they are eating and drinking. I am not sure of the local specifics, but US and EU legislation states that wines containing more than 10 parts per million sulphites must reflect the fact on the label.
In general, dessert wines contain more sulphites than dry wines and some sweet white wines contain more sulphites than red wines.
Even unsulphured wine may show sulphite concentrations up to 10 mg/l and commercially-made wines 10-20 times that amount.
The jury is still out on whether sulphites constitute a food allergen.
Some people react to them, with Wikipedia saying these may include asthmatics and others sensitive to aspirin, but that life-threatening reactions are rare.
Symptoms include difficulty breathing (particularly for asthmatics), sneezing, swelling of the throat and hives. However, essentially it is the alcohol in wine that causes hangovers, not sulphites.
Drink too much alcohol, and there is a price to be paid. - The Mercury
* Please e-mail your comments and suggestions to [email protected].