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Ethyl carbamate content in wines with malolactic fermentation induced at different points in the vinification process

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Abstract

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a carcinogenic compound found in fermented food and beverages such as wine. Although its carcinogenic potential in animals is known, information regarding its effects in humans remains insufficient, thus there is increasing interest in its research. EC content is higher in products with high alcohol content and in aged products. The main precursor involved in EC production in wine is urea, which is produced by metabolism of arginine by yeast, but there is also evidence that EC levels can increase after malolactic fermentation (MLF). Some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can degrade the arginine present in must and wine via the arginine deiminase pathway, producing citrulline and carbamyl phosphate. Both compounds can react with ethanol in acidic conditions and produce EC. Our research group is studying the influence of MLF induced at different points of wine-making on the quality of the resulting wine. Among other parameters, the content of toxic compounds such as EC was evaluated. Results so far indicate that EC levels at the end of MLF were quite low (less than 3 μg/l) in all cases, i.e. below the existing legal limit (e.g. 30 μg/l in Canada). In almost all wines, EC concentrations increased after 8 months of storage as has been described by other authors. In some of the wines in which MLF was carried out by selected LAB, the increase in EC concentration was lower.

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Acknowledgement

This work has been supported by grant PET2006_0123 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Estación de Viticultura y Enología de Reus, Institut Català de la Vinya i el Vi (INCAVI), Passeig Sunyer, 4-6, 43202, Reus, Tarragona, Spain

    M. C. Masqué, M. Soler, B. Zaplana, S. Rico & X. Elorduy

  2. Estación de Viticultura y Enología de Vilafranca del Penedès, Institut Català de la Vinya i el Vi (INCAVI), P. Àgora 2-3, 08720, Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain

    R. Franquet, A. Puig, E. Bertran & F. Capdevila

  3. Universidad de la Rioja, Logroño, Spain

    A. T. Palacios

  4. Lallemand Bio, C/Galileu, no. 303-305, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    S. V. Romero & J. M. Heras

  5. Lallemand Bio, 70825, Münchingen, Germany

    S. Krieger-Weber

Authors
  1. M. C. Masqué
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  2. M. Soler
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  3. B. Zaplana
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  4. R. Franquet
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  5. S. Rico
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  6. X. Elorduy
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  7. A. Puig
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  8. E. Bertran
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  9. F. Capdevila
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  10. A. T. Palacios
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  11. S. V. Romero
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  12. J. M. Heras
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  13. S. Krieger-Weber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. C. Masqué.

Additional information

This paper is part of the special issue "Wine microbiology and safety: from the vineyard to the bottle (Microsafetywine)", 19–20 November 2009, Martina Franca (Italy).

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Masqué, M.C., Soler, M., Zaplana, B. et al. Ethyl carbamate content in wines with malolactic fermentation induced at different points in the vinification process. Ann Microbiol 61, 199–206 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0071-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0071-y

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