Preservative E220 in wine is considered to be a food supplement. It is added to products to kill bacteria. It has another, more complete name - sulfur dioxide. This preservative can be found in almost all wines, it does not depend on the price category. It is generally accepted that this supplement causes headaches and other not very pleasant health problems. In the article, we will consider how harmful the E220 is and how it affects the body as a whole.
What is sulfur dioxide?
Sulfur dioxide is a substance of a transparent color, which does not have a very pleasant smell. It is obtained by burning sulfur. Quite simply, it can be dissolved both in water and in alcohol. It can also be attributed to the 3rd class of toxicity.
Sulfur dioxide: effects on the body
After inhalation of sulfur dioxide, a cough and a slight respiratory failure follow, in some cases pulmonary edema is possible. Contact with human mucous membranes can cause allergic reactions. It can also happen if you eat too much sulfur dioxide foods. If a person has asthma, then such products have a double danger to him.
If you drink wine, then the effect of a not very useful preservative can be different for each person. Some may, even if consumed in excess of the norm, feel good, but there are those who, even after the first glass, can feel some deterioration. There are such signs: headache and dizziness, nausea, allergic rash, in some cases, heart palpitations. The next day, the hangover may be somewhat worse, this is because the preservative of sulfur dioxide E220 in wine was more than the permissible amount, and it got into the body. It is proved that with a reduced acidity of the stomach, the consequences of a substance will be much less than with an increased one.
If such wine is consumed regularly and in unlimited quantities, it can provoke gastrointestinal diseases and a clear weakening of the immune system. The condition of hair, skin and nails noticeably worsens, and protein and vitamin B 1 are destroyed.
Some may blame the preservative E220 in the morning poor condition, but this is not the case. The main thing is to know the measure of wine consumption and it is advisable not to exceed the daily intake of products with this substance.
Other use of preservative E220
This substance is used in wine quite often, but not only there it can be found. They process vegetables and fruits, this extends their shelf life. It is also added in meat production. When using it, it will be impossible to distinguish a fresh piece of meat from stale meat. During the production of beer and drinks, the preservative E220 is also added. But most often it is used in the production of wine.
Wine Application
Preservative E220 sulfur dioxide in wine has been used since ancient Rome. It is part of absolutely any wine, it does not depend on the price of the drink and the country of origin. This substance is added in all winemaking processes, namely in the following steps:
- spraying all parts of the vineyards;
- chopping berries;
- fumigation of barrels;
- bottled.
Next, consider why sulfur dioxide in wine. A small amount of preservative is even in expensive and elite wines. The first reason why dioxide is added to drinks is its very long fermentation. After all, the drink does not stop fermenting even when it has already been bottled. That is why, so that the taste does not change and does not suffer in any way, there is an E220 preservative in wine. He actively fights against yeast and some volatile acids, because they lead to quick spoilage of the drink. Sulfur dioxide is also an excellent antioxidant, it is also an important part in winemaking. The preservative after entering into a reaction with the drink reduces the concentration of acid.
In the store, a product with any preservative content has a short shelf life. Only sulfur dioxide is able to protect wine from the oxidation and proliferation of bacteria. If we talk about strong alcoholic drinks, for example, cognac or vodka, then this substance is not added to them, because instead of it all functions are performed by a large alcohol content. Wine is different.
Is it possible to buy wine without sulfite?
Wine without E220, that is, one that does not contain chemicals, cannot be purchased. It is worth noting that even in the wine that you made at home yourself, there is E220. This happens for a very simple reason. In the process of fermentation, dioxide is released in any case, therefore its content varies from 5 to 15 mg per liter.
But many home winemakers specifically buy and add a preservative to the wine. Most often it is potassium metabisulfite or pyrosulfite. It is produced both in powder and in tablets. But with its addition you need to be careful, you can not fall asleep more than the norm. So you can spoil the wine: it will lose its taste, become rancid and change the smell.
Wine with a minimum of sulfur dioxide
Production, where the E220 food supplement is added to wine in very small doses, is called natural. On the packaging it is distinguished by special identification emblems and signs. For example, in the USA the label says: USDA Organic, but in France - Ecocert. Sulfur dioxide is used in these industries only in the process of bottling. The preservative content there is very small, even in a person with an allergy it will not cause any reactions.
In the European Union there are some acceptable limits for the content of sulfur dioxide in wines - this is 100 ml per liter of drink. But transporting and storing such bottles is very difficult.
Preservative E220 in wine is considered one of the permitted. On the package must be indicated that it is part of the product. For example, it can be written: preservative E220, sulfur dioxide E220 or just sulfur dioxide. In Europe, the bottles do not indicate that the drink contains a preservative, but in the USA, on each bottle with the content of dioxide they write: “Contains sulfites”.
How to choose a not too harmful wine?
Before choosing a drink, you need to at least know where the preservative is contained the least and in what volumes. The concentration of dioxide is calculated on production based on pH, grape variety and oxygen level in it.
- There is tannin in pink and red wines, thanks to it the amount of preservatives is reduced.
- Sweet and semi-sweet drinks roam faster, which is why the E220 preservative is added a little more to them.
- The same can be said about wines that are closed with a wooden cork. But screw or glass allow less air to pass through, precisely because of this, the drink does not oxidize.
- In dry and semi-dry wines, the preservative E220 is contained in small quantities.
- The more acidic the wine and the more alcohol it has, the less this drink will need dioxide. The same can be said about the pH level - the lower it is, the less preservative is needed.
- A lot of this substance is contained in wine, which was produced near volcanoes, because grapes easily absorb harmful substances from the soil.
Conclusion
Most people like to drink alcohol. If we talk about wine and the amount of preservative E220 contained in it, then, as mentioned earlier, there must necessarily be a norm in the use of a drink. This preservative can harm your health, because it is not only found in wine. It is also in dried fruits and fruits. To get as little harmful substance into the body as possible, wash everything thoroughly before use.