Many people have a variety of different beliefs when it comes to sulfites.  The truth is that these opinions are so vast and most do not take the time to research the subject.  Once the truth about sulfites and other potential allergy culprits is understood, then the consumer can finally make an educated decision and be exposed to more wines to enjoy.

Sulfur Dioxide inhibits growth of mold and bacteria, and since grape juice had a tendency to oxidize while wine is aging, the sulfites in wine simply preserve its’ shelf life and inhibits spoilage.  It is the only product on the USDA’s organic food list that one would consider storing for long periods of time for future generations to enjoy, thus the sulfites are protecting consumers from a more potentially serious problem later down the road

The FDA states that only .4% of the population is considered highly allergic to sulfites.  These allergic sufferers can have adverse and life threatening reactions like rashes and swollen throat.  However there are people who may have a low tolerance for sulfites in which they may feel side effects like heartburn, cramps, and flush skin.  For our sulfite-sensitive friends, wine made with organic grapes is a great alternative as it generally has less sulfites then commercial wines.

The words “Contains Sulfites” are on most bottles of wine, although no other ingredients are required to be listed.  This explains why sulfites often get blamed for causing bad reactions.  This also opens up another misconception the red wines are more likely to cause a sulfite reaction.  It is actually the other way around as white wines have many more sulfites in them then red.  What is not listed, but quite often the culprit in red wines, are the tannins and histamines contained within the skins of red grapes.  You may get a reaction to one of these while the sulfites are sitting quietly in the corner getting blamed.

One major myth that needs to be dispelled about sulfites is that, “organic and biodynamic wines have no sulfites” and therefore are a great product for those people who have allergic reactions or digestive problems when drinking wines with added sulfites.   To be clear, all wines produce sulfites naturally.  Although at very low levels, they are still there and it would be very difficult to find a wine with absolutely “no sulfites”.  Instead, if you are truly allergic to sulfites, what you should be looking for is a product that says, “no sulfites added”.  This will ensure that the number of sulfites does not reach more than 10ppm (part per million), as typical non organic or biodynamic wine can reach up to 300+ppm.

If you are finding that you can drink white wine and not red, then it is not the sulfites.  The best thing to do is experiment with what works best for you and your body.  You just may find a whole word of wine you thought you could never have.  Until then, here is a list of common foods which contain sulfites.  If you are truly allergic to sulfites you would not be able to eat any of these foods without having an adverse reaction (or a more mild reaction if you are sulfite intolerant).  Additionally, please refer to the the list of foods and and amount of sulfites they contain.  Take note of common foods like processed fruits and vegetables, condiments, and meats which contain much more the a glass of wine.

Sulphites in US foods

Alcoholic beverages:  Wine, beer cocktail mixes, wine coolers
Baked goods:  Cookies, crackers, mixes with dried fruit or vegetables, pie crust, pizza crust, flour tortillas
Beverage bases:  Dried citrus fruit beverage mixes
Condiments and relishes:  Horseradish, onion and pickle relishes, pickles, olives, salad dressing mixes, wine vinegar
Confections and frostings:  Brown, raw, powdered or white sugar derived from sugar beet
Dairy product analogues:  Filled milk (skim milk enriched with vegetable oils)
Fish and shellfish:  Canned clams; fresh, frozen, canned or dried shrimps; frozen lobster, scallops, dried    cod
Fresh fruit and vegetables:  Banned except for fresh pre-cut potatoes and sulphur dioxide used as a fungicide on grapes
Processed fruits:  Canned, bottled or frozen fruit juices (including lemon, lime, grape, apple); dried fruit, canned, bottled or frozen dietetic fruit or fruit juices; maraschino cherries, glazed fruit
Processed vegetables:  Vegetable juices; canned vegetables (including potatoes); pickled vegetables (including sauerkraut, cauliflower, and peppers), dried vegetables; instant mashed potatoes; frozen potatoes; potato salad
Gelatins, puddings, fillings:  Fruit fillings, flavoured and unflavoured gelatin, pectin, jelling agents
Grain products and pasta:  Cornstarch, modified food starch, spinach pasta, gravies, hominy, breading, batters, noodle/rice mixes
Jams and jellies:  Jams and jellies
Nuts and nut products:  Shredded coconut
Plant protein products:  Soy protein products
Snack foods:  Dried fruits snacks, trail mixes, filled crackers
Soup and soup mixes:  Canned soups, dried soup mixes
Sweet sauces, toppings:  Corn syrup, maple syrup, fruit toppings, high-fructose corn syrup, pancake syrup, molasses and syrups
Tea:  Instant tea, liquid tea concentrates

Image Provided by:  Wikipedia