What product can be more natural than wine? After all, this is, in fact, the juice of fermented grapes. But in fact, it turns out that the production of this drink is not complete without artificial additives. One of them is E220 preservative.
What is E220
E220, or sulfur dioxide, is a colorless gas, but has a pungent specific odor. It is used in the food industry as a preservative, although it is listed as a hazardous additive. Other names of this preservative are also placed on wine labels: sulfite, sulfurous acid, sulfur dioxide, sulfur dioxide.
Despite the potential harm that the additive can cause health, wine production is not complete without it, with the exception of expensive biodynamic wines, which are not available to everyone. The fact is that even packaged wine continues to ferment and oxidize. If the process is not stopped, the drink that reaches the consumer will taste terrible. That is why manufacturers use the preservative E220, since an analogue of this substance, absolutely safe for human health, has not yet been invented.
The main side effects of sulfur dioxide are headaches and hangover sensations that develop within 24 hours of drinking wine. However, it is believed that if the manufacturer has complied with the standard limiting the use of E220 at the rate of not more than 330 mg per 1 liter of wine, then such a drink is safe for humans.
The sweeter the wine, the more sulfur dioxide it contains, as sugar intensifies fermentation. In table wines, manufacturers reduce the additive content to 220-250 mg. In order not to experience hellish torment in the morning after the holiday, you should carefully read how much E220 is contained in the product.
How does E220 affect the body
Sulfur dioxide is a toxic chemical and is classified as a third hazard class. Some people are sensitive to this preservative, resulting in side effects such as headache, nausea and even vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, speech impairment, runny nose and cough. Similar symptoms appear when drinking a large amount of wine, the content of E220 in which exceeds the norm.
The greatest harm of this preservative is manifested in the fact that it destroys vitamins B1 and H, as well as protein compounds. With the constant use of products containing E220, the condition of the skin, hair, nails, etc. worsens. Particular caution should be exercised by people suffering from asthma and lung diseases, as sulfur dioxide can cause a strong allergic reaction, even leading to pulmonary edema.
