The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has issued a food alert concerning a specific batch of unfiltered apple cider vinegar sold under Mercadona’s Hacendado brand. The alert has been raised due to the presence of undeclared sulfites, which pose a significant risk to individuals with allergies to this substance.
The affected product is a 500 ml plastic bottle with the batch number L-19024 X05:58XX and a best-before date of 08/04/2025. Although the initial distribution of the product was in the Community of Madrid, it is possible that the vinegar has been redistributed to other regions across Spain.
⚠️ Exclusivamente para personas con alergia a los sulfitos: presencia de sulfitos no declarados en el etiquetado de vinagre de manzana sin filtrar.
📌 https://t.co/S4xf1gxB86 pic.twitter.com/EJu1uTJVCt— AESAN (@AESAN_gob_es) August 8, 2024
Sulfites
Sulfites are commonly used as preservatives in various food products. However, for individuals allergic to sulfites, consuming them can lead to adverse reactions ranging from mild symptoms. These vary from headaches and skin rashes to severe anaphylactic reactions in rare cases. Due to the serious health risks involved, AESAN advises anyone with a sulfite allergy who has purchased this product to refrain from consuming it and to return it to the place of purchase.
In fact, additives beginning with the E-2 nomenclature are ‘preservatives’, also called “conservatives”. This classification ranges from sorbic acid to sulphites, which are required to be declared precisely because they are allergens.
Although these additives are common in wine, seafood and vinegar for their ability to preserve freshness, they have appeared in alerts related to all kinds of foods, from some nutritional supplements to concentrated juices and smoked fish.
Product safe for those without sulfite allergy
The AESAN has coordinated with the relevant authorities through the Coordinated System for the Rapid Exchange of Information (SCIRI) to ensure the affected products are promptly removed from the market. For those who do not have a sulfite allergy, AESAN assures that the product is safe to consume and poses no health risk.
Also read: Salmonella alert in soft cheese