Metabisulphite

captain · Apr 27, 2009

Clearing agent

I just found out that the Clearing agent in the wine kit I bought is made from Shell fish. Of course my wife is allergic to shell fish. Is there alturnitives to using something else that dose the same thing that is not made of shell fish???? Any help is always apreciated.

mrs.erinss · Apr 27, 2009

You are probably talking about the Chitosan, right? I, myself, am also VERY (deathly) allergic to shellfish. I have had wine that was cleared with Chitosan (as well as other things - it's in alot of stuff, like binders for pills and things) and have not had a reaction. The Chitosan is actually made from the shells of the shellfish not the "meat" itself. And the meat is the part of the animal that contains the actual allergen.

I would say she'd be fine, but of course I am no doctor, hold no liability, etc, etc. Just my two cents.

captain · Apr 27, 2009

thanks

I was told to buy Novozyme pectic enzyme and use that instead just to make sure. The producer of the kit is going to send me some at no charge.

Thanks

Wade E · Apr 27, 2009

This is a forever thread which appears every 2-3 months, this is an article copied and paseted here from Winepress and the author of this statement is non other then the technical supervisor Tim Vandergrift who works for Winexpert wine kits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Isinglass is derived from the swim bladder of a scaled fish (not a sturgeon) in the cichlid family.

Chitosan is a super-long-chain sucrose polymer originally derived from the chitinous exoskeleton of shrimp, crab and lobster. Because shellfish allergies are triggered by proteins, it's safe--no protein.

I have a friend who is so allergic to shellfish he can't go to seafood restaurants: the steam from a platter of shrimp could kill him. He can drink chitosan without effect.
Our liability would be unlimited if we harmed just one person with the stuff--it's safe as houses."