What product can be more natural, than wine? It is, in fact, juice of the fermented grapes. But in practice it turns out that production and this drink doesn't do without artificial additives. One of them - E220 preservative.
What is E220
E220, or sulfur dioxide, represents the gas which doesn't have color, but possessing a sharp specific aroma. It is used in the food industry as preservative though it appears in the list of the additives hazardous to health. On wine labels place also other names of this preservative: sulfite, sulphurous acid, sulphurous anhydride, brimstone gas.
Despite potential harm which additive can cause to health the production of wine doesn't do without it, except for expensive biodynamic wines which are available not to everyone. The fact is that even the packed wine continues to ferment and will be oxidized. If not to stop process, drink which will reach the consumer will have terrible taste. For this reason producers use E220 preservative as they of an analog of this substance absolutely safe for human health, didn't think up yet.
The main side effect of dioxide of sulfur is the headache and feelings, the accompanying hangover which develop within a day after consumption of wine. However it is considered that if the producer executed the standard limiting application of E220 at the rate of no more than 330 mg on 1 l of wine, then such drink is safe for the person. The wine, the more dioxide of sulfur is more sweet it contains as sugar strengthens fermentation. In table wines the producers reduce additive content to 220-250 mg. That in the morning after a holiday not to suffer fire and brimstone, it is necessary to read attentively what quantity of E220 contains in a product.
As E220 affects an organism
Dioxide of sulfur is toxic chemical, and the third hazard class is appropriated to it. At some people the sensitivity to this preservative is shown therefore there can be such side effects as a headache, nausea and even vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, violation of the speech, cold and cough. Similar symptoms are shown also at the use of a large number of wine, the maintenance of E220 in which exceeds norm. The biggest harm of this preservative is shown that it destroys B1 and H vitamins and also proteinaceous connections. At the constant use of the products containing E220 the condition of skin, a hair, nails, etc. worsens. The special care should be shown to the people having asthma and diseases of lungs as dioxide of sulfur can cause the strong allergic reaction leading even to a pulmonary edema.