Is spoiled wine dangerous?

Question

Hi all,This may be a strange request, but here goes: My mother-in-law ate adinner recently where she ate some old ham and drank one glass of oldwine. The ham was about 5 days old (sat out unrefrigerated for atleast an entire day during Easter), and the wine had been opened atleast a year earlier. I'm not sure of the type of wine it was, but itwas probably a white wine and she told me it was organic (expresslywithout sulfites). I'm not sure if the wine was refrigerated or not.Soon after she ate this meal, she had severe diarrhea (involvinghemorrhaging) and was sick for days. She swears that the poisoningcame from the wine, but I believe that spoiled wine becomes acidic,which is self-stabilizing. The fact that she actually drank the entireglass of wine tells me that the wine must not have tasted too bad.So I ask you, can old wine cause severe food poisoning such as thetype that she suffered?Thanks,-Trent

Alfonse · Accepted Answer

Trent,I eat/drink old, spoiled vine every day! Its called wine vinegar. Hersickness is most likely called food poisoning from the old, dead, fermentingpig called leftover ham. I believe that food poisoning can be "felt" asquickly as 15 minutes after ingesting the bacteria.On another note, any leftover (spoiled) wine that you don't want to drinkcan be dumped into a container to be made into vinegar, assuming that youhave the vinegar culture (mother).Al

Tom S · Answer

No.  Wine does not support the growth of pathogens because it is too acidic.The ham is probably what did her in.Tom S

Dar V · Answer

I agree, the ham is the problem - it shouldn't sit out that long.Darlene

Trent Moorehead · Answer

Thanks everyone for your quick and succinct responses. You haveconfirmed my suspicions.-Trent

Gabriel · Answer

Incidentally, I understand that wine - particularly white wine - helps toprevent food poisoning. IIRC, the alcohol in the wine supposedly softens thebacteria cell walls and the acidity is what actually kills 'em (which is whywhite is better than red). Just another reason to drink a glass of wine withyour meals. And you know... if one is good then three must be way good. Ofcourse as your mother's example shows, even if this is the case it does notoffer complete protection.

Ray · Answer

What this suggests is that you should order wine with your meal in thegreasy spoon and it does not really mater as much in the good restaurant.Ray

Is spoiled wine dangerous?

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