Canned Food and Wine Ingredient Causes Adverse ReactionsHeather Callaghan Thats when I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Out of the blue, my heart starts uncontrollably racing. A weak, erratic, snare-drum pace. Then came the sudden nausea and heavy lungs. You know when you get food poisoning, how you just know what caused it? (well, theres also evidence) But I just knew what caused this scary event and I was right! I thought I had had a healthy paleo-ish dinner, the only non-paleo part being the 5oz of wine afterward. All was well. A few hours later, I made an impromptu bean dip from a can of southwestern bean salad. Not the greatest idea considering the BPA and possible MSG, but there didnt appear to be any. How can two small amounts of something wreak so much havoc This was going to be a long night. I took whatever heart remedies I could find to slow the scary racing. I meditated and prayed as best as I could and drank tons of water. I am not going to an emergency room for a lousy can! What was in that can of beans that kept arising in my consciousness? Sure, there are safe levels that the FDA considers okay now (when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice). But if people dont realize the amounts of sulfites in various foods, how are they to know when theyve overdosed? Whether allergic or sensitive, symptoms can include rapid heartbeat, flushing, hives, swelling of the tongue and face, anxiety, vomiting and a drop in lung function (seen in those sensitive to its use in medications). A thorough list of foods and medications with their amounts of sulfites appears here. You can see how easy it would be to accidentally consume too much in one day, whatever that might be for each person. Sulfites only require labeling if they go above 10ppm. It should also be noted that the FDA makes big exceptions for industries who claim a ban would kill their business the frozen and canned potato industry. Maybe you are not as entirely sensitive to these ingredients as I am. If you are, theres hope. Look up NAET therapy its a gentle, natural treatment mode that removes the allergic reaction to common foods, ingredients and chemicals. It doesnt mean that it will remove the negative effects to your health, it just means that the overkill inflammation charge gets removed. I received much allergy help with a practitioner as it happens, we had not yet landed on sulfites. This practice is especially helpful for those who do not have much food choice and/or are stocking up on preserved goods for future use. The other, more obvious solution of course, is to avoid eating things that require preservatives and toxic packaging. Recent posts byHeather Callaghan: Could it be? Botulism? Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium The muscle weakness of botulism characteristically starts in the muscles supplied by the cranial nerves. A group of twelve nerves controls eye movements, the facial muscles and the muscles controlling chewing and swallowing. Double vision, drooping of both eyelids, loss of facial expression and swallowing problems may therefore occur, as well as difficulty with talking. Severe botulism leads to reduced movement of the muscles of respiration, and hence problems with gas exchange. This may be experienced as dyspnea (difficulty breathing), but when severe can lead to respiratory failure, due to the buildup of unexhaled carbon dioxide and its resultant depressant effect on the brain. This may lead to coma and eventually death if untreated. In addition to affecting the voluntary muscles, it can also cause disruptions in the autonomic nervous system. This is experienced as a dry mouth and throat (due to decreased production of saliva), postural hypotension (decreased blood pressure on standing, with resultant lightheadedness and risk of blackouts), and eventually constipation (due to decreased peristalsis). Some of the toxins (B and E) also precipitate nausea and vomiting. Clinicians frequently think of the symptoms of botulism in terms of a classic triad: bulbar palsy and descending paralysis, lack of fever, and clear senses and mental status (clear sensorium). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulism Sounds like you were having premature ventricular contractions (pvcs) or perhaps atrial (pacs). They are often induced from alcohol, caffeine, chemicals, etc. If you continue to find your heart racing, often noticed at night, you may want to confirm they are benign and not sign of a heart condition. Peace. Anything to do with the heart, including aching jaw, arm or numb tongue. The only safe foods to eat are organic, live (raw), and nonradioactive. I had a really bad asthma attack on an airplane once (on a Mexican airliner), that was likely caused by this stuff sprayed on fresh produce. Even small amounts can give me an asthma attack if I inhale while food is in my mouth. It also frequently causes me diarrhea, and in rare instances hives on my torso. I did not know labeling was not always required! This is dangerous stuff. Thank you for the article. 