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| So far we have covered SULPHITES because it's a problem we're very familiar with, but there are other compounds present in wines which can also affect a small minority of people. Unfortunately it's an extremely difficult topic to research fully because every bottle of wine is slightly different, every person is slightly different, and people's reactions and symptoms can vary enormously for a variety of reasons as simple as what they had to eat before drinking the wine!Sorbic Acid E200 or Potassium Sorbate E202 are present in most wines as a 'stabiliser' and these can cause allergic reactions in people too.Salicylates also occur in wine. These are plant derived allergens which can affect sensitive people. Their original purpose in plants was to deter animals from eating them! It's a very difficult thing to test people for because they only react once they've reached their tolerance level, but generally if you can eat fresh fruit without a problem you're very unlikely to be sensitive to them. However fresh fruit is often sprayed with sulphites as a preservative so make sure you wash it first or you may be reacting to these!Tannin. Some people can react adversely to tannins which are predominant in red wines. There are two main types in wine, grape tannin from the skin and seeds, and oak tannin which can be absorbed by the wine when it's aged in wood.So we see there are various possibilities and combinations of possibilities, so it's very difficult to state as fact that any one wine will be suitable for any one person. It's a matter of trying small quantities of various wines and finding the ones that are right for you.Wine is good for you!That's a fact. Wine has been used for milennia as a medicine and tonic. It has many beneficial characteristics. In fact if you ever read classical books, there is a plethora of famous people quoting the benefits of wine over the centuries from Hipocrates to Louis Pasteur.In fact wine (we mean good wine, not factory produced stuff pumped full of chemicals) in moderation, lowers bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol and is a good preventer of vascular disease, and reduces the risk of both cancer and diabetes. It's a valuable fat free source of assorted nutrients, and according to the world remowned physician and expert wine maker, Dr Phil Norrie, 'people who drink good wine in moderation have the lowest death rates from all causes'. Dr Phil is back producing his excellent wines again although still can't get passed EU beaurocracy yet, but we expect to be importing his superb resveratrol enhanced wines again soon. He has published a fascinating paper on Dowie Doole's website explaining the health benefits of drinking good wine - read it hereHowever we are constantly told that alcohol is bad for us and that we shouldn't drink so much etc etc. The British Medical Association has just released a report that two glasses of wine a day can lead to throat cancer! Yes, in certain circumstances I'm sure it can, and I haven't read the full report but let's hope they tell the full story - that they're not talking about quality well made wines but these mass produced factory brands that are pumped full of up to 80 different chemicals.Since the introduction of E- numbers in the 1970s (including sulphites!) the asthma rate in children in Australia has soared from 2% to over 30%, as it has in other 'first world' countries. In developing countries like India where preservatives are rare, the asthma rate is still 2%. Throat and stomach cancer rates have soared in developed countries too, but nobody's looking too hard for the causes, I suspect because they already know the answer but the big players in our global brand economy want to keep it under wraps. The World Health Organisation have recommended phasing out sulphites, which speaks volumes in itself. However the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (www.cspinet.org) recommended banning them 25 years ago, and yet today they're more widely used than ever!Here's a brief list of some of the chemicals permitted in your wine - but remarkably, unlike food, they don't have to state it on the label!AgarAlginates, calcium and potassium saltsAmmonium phosphatesArgonAscorbic acidBentoniteCalcium carbonateCalcium tartrateCarbon dioxideCarbon dioxideCelluloseCitric acidCollagenCopper sulphateCultures of micro-organismsCupric citrateDiatomaceous earthDimethyl dicarbonateDimethylpolysiloxaneEgg whiteEnzymesErythorbic acidGelatineGrape juice including concentrated grape juiceGrape skin extractGum ArabicHydrogen peroxideIon exchange resinsIsinglassLactic acidLysozymeMalic acidMetatartaric acidMilk and milk productsMistelleNitrogenOakOxygenPerlitePhytatesPlant proteins permPolyvinyl polypyrrolidonePotassium carbonatePotassium ferrocyanidePotassium hydrogen carbonatePotassium hydrogen tartratePotassium sorbatePotassium sulphitesSilicon dioxideSorbic acidSulphur dioxideTanninsTartaric acidThiamin chlorideThiamin hydrochlorideYeast mannoproteinsLet's also take a brief look at the recommended units debacle. The government employed a think tank of medical experts to come up with a 'safe limit'. After much research they submitted their recommendations, the government didn't like it and subsequently decided to completely ignore them and announce a recommended limit of about 1/3 of that recommended by the medical professionals!Good wine, low in additives is good for you. Citizens of Mediterranean countries have been consuming vast amounts of wine all their lives on a daily basis, and they're some of the healthiest people alive. One French producer I met with recently told me his father used to drink 5 litres of wine a day and he lived till he was 94. Another Italian friend of mine tells me his grandfather had six brothers and sisters who all consumed copious amounts of wine on a daily basis where it was drunk from pint glasses for breakfast and throughout the day, and they all lived to over 100! The difference is this wine is natural with no chemicals. Our government and the EU know exactly what we're consuming and the health risks but they won't openly admit it. Rather they try to classify all alcohol as bad for you. Alcohol is like food - consume good quality produce, made naturally and it's perfectly healthy for you in moderation. Consume processed, heavily preserved factory produced rubbish and it's not good for! 'You are what you eat' - or drink - so perhaps it's time we started taking care of ourselves by drinking a few bottles of decent wine each week. A very enjoyable way to look after ourselves!Sulphites in other foodsSulphites are widely used in a variety of other foods - including many where you may not expect them! Their main purpose is to react with oxygen before the oxygen can react with the food so think of anything that may go off quickly and chances are it'll have sulphites in. For example when fresh prawns are caught they are often sprinkled with a sulphur powder to stop them discolouring.Perhaps the worst examples are dried fruits which are permitted to contain a whopping 2000 ppm of total sulphites. And as we found out, some substances are banned in certain countries but still permitted in others such as our tinned mushroom incident. We always try and buy fresh produce wherever possible, and we always read the label in our effort to cut out as many additives as possible.Here's a list of E numbers which are permitted in the UK.Colours E100 Curcumin E101 (i) Riboflavin (ii) Riboflavin-5'-phosphate E102 Tartrazine E104 Quinoline yellow E110 Sunset Yellow FCF; Orange Yellow S E120 Cochineal; Carminic acid; Carmines E122 Azorubine; Carmoisine E123 Amaranth E124 Ponceau 4R; Cochineal Red A E127 Erythrosine E128 Red 2G E129 Allura Red AC E131 Patent Blue V E132 lndigotine; Indigo Carmine E133 Brilliant Blue FCF E140 Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins E141 Copper complexes of chlorophyll and chlorophyllins E142 Green S E150a Plain caramel E150b Caustic sulphite caramel E150c Ammonia caramel E150d Sulphite ammonia caramel E151 Brilliant Black BN; Black PN E153 Vegetable carbon E154 Brown FK E155 Brown HT E160a Carotenes E160b Annatto; Bixin; Norbixin E160c Paprika extract; Capsanthian; Capsorubin E160d Lycopene E160e Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C30) E160f Ethyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenoic acid (C30) E161b Lutein E161g Canthaxanthin E162 Beetroot Red; Betanin E163 Anthocyanins E170 Calcium carbonate E171 Titanium dioxide E172 Iron oxides and hydroxides E173 Aluminium E174 Silver E175 Gold E180 Litholrubine BK Back to top of page Preservatives E200 Sorbic acid E202 Potassium sorbate E203 Calcium sorbate E210 Benzoic acid E211 Sodium benzoate E212 Potassium benzoate E213 Calcium benzoate E214 Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate E215 Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate E216 Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate E217 Sodium propyl p-hydroxybenzoate E218 Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate E219 Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate E220 Sulphur dioxide E221 Sodium sulphite E222 Sodium hydrogen sulphite E223 Sodium metabisuiphite E224 Potassium metabisulphite E226 Calcium sulphite E227 Calcium hydrogen sulphite E228 Potassium hydrogen sulphite E230 Biphenyl; diphenyl E231 Orthophenyl phenol E232 Sodium orthophenyl phenol E234 Nisin E235 Natamycin E239 Hexamethylene tetramine E242 Dimethyl dicarbonate E249 Potassium nitrite E250 Sodium nitrite E251 Sodium nitrate E252 Potassium nitrate E280 Propionic acid E281 Sodium propionate E282 Calcium propionate E283 Potassium propionate E284 Boric acid E285 Sodium tetraborate; borax E1105 Lysozyme Back to top of pageAntioxidants E300 Ascorbic acid E301 Sodium ascorbate E302 Calcium ascorbate E304 Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid E306 Tocopherols E307 Alpha-tocopherol E308 Gamma-tocopherol E309 Delta-tocopherol E310 Propyl gallate E311 Octyl gallate E312 Dodecyl gallate E315 Erythorbic acid E316 Sodium erythorbate E320 Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) E321 Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) Back to top of pageSweeteners E420 (i) Sorbitol (ii) Sorbitol syrup E421 Mannitol E953 lsomalt E965 (i) Maltitol (ii) Maltitol syrup E966 Lactitol E967 Xylitol E950 Acesulfame K E951 Aspartame E952 Cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts E954 Saccharin and its Na, K and Ca salts E957 Thaumatin E959 Neohesperidine DC Back to top of pageEmulsifiers, Stabilisers, Thickeners and Gelling Agents E322 Lecithins E400 Alginic acid E401 Sodium alginate E402 Potassium alginate E403 Ammonium alginate E404 Calcium alginate E405 Propane-1,2-diol alginate E406 Agar E407 Carrageenan E407a Processed eucheuma seaweed E410 Locust bean gum; carob gum E412 Guar gum E413 Tragacanth E414 Acacia gum; gum arabic E415 Xanthan gum E416 Karaya gum E417 Tara gum E418 Gellan gum E425 Konjac E432 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate; Polysorbate 20 E433 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate; Polysorbate 80 E434 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate; Polysorbate 40 E435 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate; Polysorbate 60 E436 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate; Polysorbate 65 E440 Pectins E442 Ammonium phosphatides E444 Sucrose acetate isobutyrate E445 Glycerol esters of wood rosins E460 Cellulose E461 Methyl cellulose E463 Hydroxypropyl cellulose E464 Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose E465 Ethyl methyl cellulose E466 Carboxy methyl cellulose E467 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose E468 Crosslinked sodium carboxy methyl cellulose E469 Enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose E470a Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty Acids E470b Magnesium salts of fatty acids E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472a Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472b Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472c Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472d Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E473 Sucrose esters of fatty acids E474 Sucroglycerides E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate E477 Propane-1,2-diol esters of fatty acids E479b Thermally oxidised soya bean oil interacted with mono and diglycerides of fatty acids E481 Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate E482 Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate E483 Stearyl tartrate E491 Sorbitan monostearate E492 Sorbitan tristearate E493 Sorbitan monolaurate E494 Sorbitan monooleate E495 Sorbitan monopalmitate E1103 Invertase Back to top of pageOthers Acid, acidity regulators, anti-caking agents, anti-foaming agents, bulking agents, carriers and carriersolvents, emulsifying salts, firming agents, flavour enhancers, flour treatment agents, foaming agents,glazing agents, humectants, modified starches, packaging gases, propellants, raising agents andsequestrants. E170 Calcium carbonates E260 Acetic acid E261 Potassium acetate E262 Sodium acetate E263 Calcium acetate E270 Lactic acid E290 Carbon dioxide E296 Malic acid E297 Fumaric acid E325 Sodium lactate E326 Potassium lactate E327 Calcium lactate E330 Citric acid E331 Sodium citrates E332 Potassium citrates E333 Calcium citrates E334 Tartaric acid (L-(+)) E335 Sodium tartrates E336 Potassium tartrates E337 Sodium potassium tartrate E338 Phosphoric acid E339 Sodium phosphates E340 Potassium phosphates E341 Calcium phosphates E343 Magnesium phosphates E350 Sodium malates E351 Potassium malate E352 Calcium malates E353 Metatartaric acid E354 Calcium tartrate E355 Adipic acid E356 Sodium adipate E357 Potassium adipate E363 Succinic acid E380 Triammonium citrate E385 Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate; calcium disodium EDTA E422 Glycerol E431 Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate E450 Diphosphates E451 Triphosphates E452 Polyphosphates E459 Beta-cyclodextrin E500 Sodium carbonates E501 Potassium carbonates E503 Ammonium carbonates E504 Magnesium carbonates E507 Hydrochloric acid E508 Potassium chloride E509 Calcium chloride E511 Magnesium chloride E512 Stannous chloride E513 Sulphuric acid E514 Sodium sulphates E515 Potassium sulphates E516 Calcium sulphate E517 Ammonium sulphate E520 Aluminium sulphate E521 Aluminium sodium sulphate E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate E523 Aluminium ammonium sulphate E524 Sodium hydroxide E525 Potassium hydroxide E526 Calcium hydroxide E527 Ammonium hydroxide E528 Magnesium hydroxide E529 Calcium oxide E530 Magnesium oxide E535 Sodium ferrocyanide E536 Potassium ferrocyanide E538 Calcium ferrocyanide E541 Sodium aluminium phosphate E551 Silicon dioxide E 552 Calcium silicate E553a (i) Magnesium silicate (ii) Magnesium trisilicate E553b Talc E554 Sodium aluminium silicate E555 Potassium aluminium silicate E556 Aluminium calcium silicate E558 Bentonite E559 Aluminium silicate; Kaolin E570 Fatty acids E574 Gluconic acid E575 Glucono delta-lactone E576 Sodium gluconate E577 Potassium gluconate E578 Calcium gluconate E579 Ferrous gluconate E585 Ferrous lactate E620 Glutamic acid E621 Monosodium glutamate E622 Monopotassium glutamate E623 Calcium diglutamate E624 Monoammonium glutamate E625 Magnesium diglutamate E626 Guanylic acid E627 Disodium guanylate E628 Dipotassium guanylate E629 Calcium guanylate E630 lnosinic acid E631 Disodium inosinate E632 Dipotassium inosinate E633 Calcium inosinate E634 Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides E635 Disodium 5'-ribonucieotides E640 Glycine and its sodium salt E650 Zinc acetate E900 Dimethylpolysiloxane E901 Beeswax, white and yellow E902 Candelilla wax E903 Carnauba wax E904 Shellac E905 Microcrystalline wax E912 Montan acid esters E914 Oxidised Polyethylene wax E920 L-Cysteine E927b Carbamide E938 Argon E939 Helium E941 Nitrogen E942 Nitrous oxide E943a Butane E943b Iso-butane E944 Propane E948 Oxygen E949 Hydrogen E999 Quillaia extract E1200 Polydextrose E1201 Polyvinylpyrrolidone E1202 Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone E1404 Oxidised starch E1410 Monostarch phosphate E1412 Distarch phosphate E1413 Phosphated distarch phosphate E1414 Acetylated starch E1420 Acetylated Starch E1422 Acetylated distarch adipate E1440 Hydroxyl propyl starch E1442 Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate E1450 Starch sodium octenyl succinate E1451 Acetylated oxidised starch Polyethylene glycol 6000 E1505 Triethyl citrate E1518 Glyceryl triacetate; triacetin E1520 Propan-1,2-diol; propylene glycol |
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