History Lesson on Sulfites...
Sulfites in Food, What They Are, Where They're Found, and When to Avoid Them...
Sulfites are added to many processed foods and beverages as preservatives. While safe for most people, they can cause allergic reactions in some, especially asthmatics.
Sulfites are a group of sulfur-based compounds that sometimes occur naturally and sometimes are added to foods primarily as preservatives. Sulfites, bisulfites, and metabisulfites are the dry chemical forms of the gas, sulfur dioxide. According to the Food Marketing Institute, the food industry uses six sulfiting agents. Any of these ingredients found on a nutrition label means the product contains sulfites:
Sulfur dioxide
Sodium sulfite
Sodium bisulfite
Potassium bisulfite
Sodium metabisulfite
Potassium metabisulfite
Where Sulfites are Found
Sulfur-based preservatives have been used for centuries to prevent browning on fruits and vegetables, to prevent black spots on seafood, to discourage bacterial growth in fermented beverages, and to condition bread dough.
In the 1980s the FDA began prohibiting the use of sulfites on fresh fruits and vegetables meant to be eaten raw (such as restaurant salad bars and supermarket produce), and they required companies to list all sulfiting agents used as preservatives in concentrations of at least 10 parts per million (ppm). Although sulfites are no longer added to most fresh foods, they still are found in many cooked and processed foods—and in some foods they occur naturally. Here is a partial list of foods that might contain sulfites:
Bakery goods such as cookies, tortillas, waffles, pie/pizza crusts, breads containing dough conditioners
Condiments such as horseradish, relish, pickles, olives, wine vinegar
Fresh grapes (sulfites can be used on grapes as a fungicide)
Dried and glacéed fruit , Maraschino cherries
Bottled lemon and lime juice
Jams and jellies
Canned and frozen vegetables
Vegetable juices
Guacamole
Molasses
Shredded coconut
Shrimp, scallops, lobster, crab, clams
Soy protein products such as tofu
Processed cheese foods
Gravy
Soup, noodle, and rice mixes
Trail mix
Potato and tortilla chips
Dehydrated, pre-cut or peeled potatoes
Beer, wine, wine coolers, cocktail mixes, hard cider
Tea concentrates and instant tea
Sulfites in Wine
Because yeast produces sulfites during fermentation, sulfites are a natural by-product of the wine-making process. However, almost all winemakers add an additional small amount of sulfites to act as a preservative. Although the United States requires a sulfite warning label, all countries add sulfites to their wines; they simply aren’t required to list the fact on the label. Wine without added sulfites will last approximately 18 months.
What About Organic Wine?
According to the Organic Consumer’s Association, organic wine in the United States must be made without added sulfites. A wine labeled “organic” may still contain naturally-occurring sulfites; however, the sulfite level must be less than 20 ppm.
Do Sulfites Cause Headaches?
Many people believe the sulfites in wine, particularly red wine, cause headaches. Not true, states Andrew L. Waterhouse, internationally recognized wine chemist and Professor of Enology at University of California at Davis.
Dr. Waterhouse suggests that anyone believing sulfites cause headaches should eat a few orange-colored dried apricots, a 2-ounce serving of which contains approximately 112 mg sulfites. United States law stipulates that wines cannot contain more than 350 mg per liter sulfites, and that wines in excess of 10 mg per liter must have a warning label. White wines actually have slightly more sulfites than red wines. Apparently, something in red wines does cause headaches, but researchers don’t yet know what that is.
When to Avoid Sulfites
Sulfites are safe for most people. However, the FDA estimates that 1 out of 100 people are sensitive to sulfites and that approximately 5% of those with asthma are at risk of suffering an adverse reaction to sulfites. People can develop sulfite allergies at any point in life. While the most common symptom is breathing difficulty, reported allergic responses have also included chest tightness, dizziness, nausea, cramps, hives, and wheezing. In extreme (and fairly rare) cases, sulfites can cause anaphylactic shock.
For anyone with sulfite allergies it is important not to assume any food is safe. Diligently read all nutrition labels, including labels on bulk bins (ask to check the ingredient label on the original package, if necessary). In restaurants, ask the chef or server if sulfites are used in any food items—before, during or after preparation. When ordering potatoes, choose baked. Asthmatics should always carry an inhaler, and anyone who has had a reaction to sulfites should carry antihistamine.
There are Foods with Sulphites they better ban before it kills human's:lol:
Any food in the four major food groups (boxes, bags, cans or bottles) may contain sulphites. Fresh fruits and vegetables may also be sprayed with sulphites to extend shelf life. Some products may list sulphites on labels, while others do not. Some foods contain naturally occurring sulphites, such as grapes. Below is a partial list.
Alcoholic/non-alcoholic beer, cider, wine, colored alcohols
Baked goods, e.g., breads, cookies, pastries, waffles
Bottled lemon and lime juice/concentrate
Canned/frozen/dried/glazed fruits and vegetables
Some fresh fruits and vegetables
Fruit filling, fruit syrup, gelatin, jams, marmalade, molasses, pectin
Fruit/vegetable juices
Potatoes, e.g., frozen French fries, dehydrated, mashed, peeled
Tomato paste/pulp/puree
Cereal, cornmeal, cornstarch, crackers, muesli
Condiments, e.g., coleslaw, horseradish, ketchup, mustard, pickles, relish, sauerkraut
Deli meat, hot dogs, sausages
Dressings, gravies, guacamole, sauces, soups, soup mixes
Dried herbs, spices, tea, coffee
Fish, including crustaceans and shellfish
Shake-on meat coatings
Snack foods, e.g., candy, chocolate/fruit bars, tortilla/potato chips, soft drinks, trail mix
Soy products
Starches, e.g., corn, potato, sugar beet, noodles, rice mixes
Sugar syrups, e.g., glucose, glucose solids, syrup dextrose
Vinegar, wine vinegar
*Some foods have naturally occurring sulphites, such as grapes and pork, so it’s difficult to eliminate them. The degree to which you minimize consumption is up to you and what you can tolerate. Winemakers typically add sulphites as a preservative or use metabisulphite as a cleaning agent for bottles. See Eating Safe / Drinking Safe.
I think that they won't ban cures with sulphites because it would put a big hit to my business and others...
rotest:
