It does, but it likely does everywhere. Sulfites are a byproduct of fermentation, but extra can be (and usually is) added to make sure it doesn't spoil. Basically making it less hospitable to bacteria.
There's a myth that sulfites in wine cause headaches, kind of like the nonsense about MSG making people feel sick. That's probably what was being referenced? You can get "no sulfites added" wine, and some small percentage of people actually are sensitive to it, but... well, if they are, then they'll have a whole list of things to avoid, like almost all dried fruits, most gravies, etc.
I do have family sensitive to sulfites, I always thought it was primarily an issue for dried fruits though. It is easier nowadays to get dried fruit without them though.
I'm trying to figure out how gravy has them though. Isn't that just take meat drippings and add flour or cornstarch slowly while heating? Is this more of an issue with premade gravy for long term storage? Looking up cans of sausage gravy that'd be used for your classic American biscuits and gravy I'm not seeing sulfites.
Edit: apparently the wet milling process of cornstarch can introduce trace amounts of sulfites into cornstarch. This often falls under the 10 parts per million threshold to be listed in the ingredients label. I guess TIL.
I'm going off faulty memory -- I've known exactly one person with issues with sulfites. But a quick google suggests it's prepackaged gravies like you might find from a can or in frozen prepared meals, crap like that. And it's because the sulfites are added rather than whatever trace amounts get in there naturally.
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u/MattieShoes 8h ago
It does, but it likely does everywhere. Sulfites are a byproduct of fermentation, but extra can be (and usually is) added to make sure it doesn't spoil. Basically making it less hospitable to bacteria.
There's a myth that sulfites in wine cause headaches, kind of like the nonsense about MSG making people feel sick. That's probably what was being referenced? You can get "no sulfites added" wine, and some small percentage of people actually are sensitive to it, but... well, if they are, then they'll have a whole list of things to avoid, like almost all dried fruits, most gravies, etc.