Canada has ruled out any contamination of wines sold in its domestic market. A recent lawsuit filed in California had alleged high arsenic contamination in many low cost wines sold in the U.S. and neighbouring markets. It had its echo in Canada as well. But Canadian authorities are stating that there is no room for anxiety as regulations are tight and so far, no case of any brand having excess arsenic has been noticed.

The law suit had alleged that several cheap wines have "very, very high levels of arsenic." Filed on March 19 by two California couples, the law suit alleged that drinkers of California wine have become "unwitting 'guinea pigs of arsenic exposure," due to the negligent and misleading actions of some California wineries, reports CNN.

The lawsuit triggered panic among wine drinkers as it drew many historic examples and cited the deaths of Napoleon Bonaparte, Simon Bolivar, King George III, King Faisal I, from probable arsenic poisoning. The lawsuit also sought monetary damages to the plaintiffs and a court order requiring the defendants to disclose on the bottles, the risks of consuming inorganic arsenic in wines and the need for corrective advertising.

Brand Concerns

The California lawsuit mentioned that some errant brands are being sold in Ontario, via The Liquor Control Board of Ontario and throughout Canada. But LCBO claimed that it tested more than 11,900 wines for arsenic levels, including 1,543 wines from California. But all of them were below the maximum permissible limit of arsenic set by Health Canada, said a spokesperson.

Warren Kindzierski, professor with the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, also played down the arsenic threat in wines sold in Canada. He said this “is really not an important public health issue with respect to arsenic exposure,” reports Daily Brew.

Strict Parameters

Unlike the U.S., where no limits are in place for the amount of arsenic in wine, Canada has a current limit of 100 ppb. That is well below the limit set by the International Organisation for Vine and Wine, which has a maximum limit for arsenic in wine at 200 part per billion or ppb. The OIV has mandate over 46 countries, including France, Germany and Australia. Canada set the limits in 1989 for all ready- to- serve beverages including apple juice, wine and cider.

Health Canada Initiative

Meanwhile, Health Canada is readying some new updates on the permissible amount of arsenic and lead in beverages. But that will not cover wine, according to government spokesperson Eric Morrissette. The Health Canada’s 2014 proposal states that arsenic and lead are present in the environment at low levels as a result of natural occurrence and release from anthropogenic sources. The levels of arsenic and lead in foods in Canada have been stable at very levels for many years. These trace amounts typically reflect the expected accumulation from the environment.

The process will involve reviewing arsenic intakes from all dietary sources, including alcoholic beverages. The update will determine any fresh risk management measures are required in arsenic monitoring. “Health Canada does not consider the typical concentrations of arsenic in wine to represent a health concern,” added Morrissette.

VQA Wine -- the regulatory agency responsible for maintaining the integrity of local wine appellations said it tests wine for arsenic, among other things. It never had a recall over this, calimed Laurie Macdonald, Executive director of VQA Wine. But Canadian Food Inspection Agency website indicates one recall in late 2014 of a wine brand, made in New York, forhaving exceeded arsenic levels beyond 100 ppb.

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