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Sulfites, Wine and Urinary Infections

Sulfites are used in the wine-making process for preservation and to extend shelf life. Sulfite sensitivity exists only in about 5 percent of asthmatics. Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are caused by bacteria.

  1. Urinary Infections

    • UTIs can appear in both men and women. Antibiotics are used to treat the bacterial infections.

    Treatment

    • Alcohol, including wine, can aggravate the infection. Anyone using antibiotics should not drink alcohol. UTIs are not affected by sulfites in wine or other foods.

    Wine

    • The wine-making process employs yeast to ferment the fruit, which creates sulfites. The amount of sulfites added to the wine cannot be more than 350 mg/liter in the U.S.

    Sulfite-Free Wine

    • There are no wines that are sulfite-free. Organic wines contain only trace amounts of sulfites, if any. Wines that contain less than 10 parts per million are not required to add "sulfites added" to the label.

    Misconceptions

    • Only a small portion of the population has sensitivity to sulfites. The sensitive reaction includes symptoms like headaches and heartburn.

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