1995 Vandarch Republic wine scandal: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "thumb|Chemical testing of Holldoner wines, 1995 The '''1995 Vandarch Republic wine scandal''' was an incident in which several wineries in Hollona and Diorisia were found to have illegally modified their wines using the chemical {{wp|diethylene glycol}}, a toxic substance frequently found in antifreeze. The purpose of the addition of the diethylene glycol was to make the wines appear sweeter and more full-bodied in the style of la...") Tag: 2017 source edit |
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Most of the recalled wines contained up to a few grams of diethylene glycol per litre (and many only a fraction of a gram), which meant that dozens of bottles would have to be consumed in a limited period of time to reach the lethal dose of approximately 40 grams. However, in one record-setting wine (a 1993 St. John's from Hollona) 48 grams per litre was detected, which meant that the consumption of a single bottle could have been lethal. Also, long-term consumption of diethylene glycol is known to damage the kidney, liver and brain. In a fortuitous twist, ethanol prevents the metabolization of diethylene glycol, which further protected consumers. | Most of the recalled wines contained up to a few grams of diethylene glycol per litre (and many only a fraction of a gram), which meant that dozens of bottles would have to be consumed in a limited period of time to reach the lethal dose of approximately 40 grams. However, in one record-setting wine (a 1993 St. John's from Hollona) 48 grams per litre was detected, which meant that the consumption of a single bottle could have been lethal. Also, long-term consumption of diethylene glycol is known to damage the kidney, liver and brain. In a fortuitous twist, ethanol prevents the metabolization of diethylene glycol, which further protected consumers. | ||
==Discovery and market consequences== | ==Discovery and market consequences== | ||
[[File:Weinflaschenbanderole_Österreich.jpg|thumb|Holldoner wine with obligatory numbered seal, one of the measures introduced following the 1995 scandal]] | |||
Based on wine fraud discovered previously in [[Yonderre]] involving illegal sweetening in [[Anglei|Ænglish]] wines, laboratory testing of imported wine had intensified in Yonderre in the mid-1990s. The first wine discovered to contain diethylene glycol was a 1993 Carmadon from a supermarket in [[Sainte-Catherine]], analysed on June 27, 1995. Differing from the previous Ænglish sweetening, which had been done with sugar, the Holldoner wine was found to contain a toxic compound and prompted an immediate declaration of a health crisis. Subsequent sampling indicated that a significant number of different bottlings were part of this dangerous adulteration scheme. Therefore, unlike cases of simple sweetening, the 1995 diethylene glycol findings immediately took the proportion of a full-scale scandal requiring action by federal authorities. On July 9, the government of Yonderre issued an official health warning against the consumption of Holldoner wines, enlarged to include Diorisian and Ænglish wines on July 12. | Based on wine fraud discovered previously in [[Yonderre]] involving illegal sweetening in [[Anglei|Ænglish]] wines, laboratory testing of imported wine had intensified in Yonderre in the mid-1990s. The first wine discovered to contain diethylene glycol was a 1993 Carmadon from a supermarket in [[Sainte-Catherine]], analysed on June 27, 1995. Differing from the previous Ænglish sweetening, which had been done with sugar, the Holldoner wine was found to contain a toxic compound and prompted an immediate declaration of a health crisis. Subsequent sampling indicated that a significant number of different bottlings were part of this dangerous adulteration scheme. Therefore, unlike cases of simple sweetening, the 1995 diethylene glycol findings immediately took the proportion of a full-scale scandal requiring action by federal authorities. On July 9, the government of Yonderre issued an official health warning against the consumption of Holldoner wines, enlarged to include Diorisian and Ænglish wines on July 12. | ||
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==Legal consequences== | ==Legal consequences== | ||
Lawsuits were brought against numerous actors in the wine scandal. Some wineries in [[Hollona and Diorisia]] were shut down by government mandates and their leaderships put on trial, with several facing prison time. In Anglei, owners and managers of several bottling plants were also found guilty of gross incompetence and punished similarly. Many of the adulterated wines were found to originate in Orkham in Hollona where a consulting wine chemist was prosecuted. One of the convicted Orkham winemakers, Carl Broil, proprietor of Broil Wines, committed suicide after being sentenced. | Lawsuits were brought against numerous actors in the wine scandal. Some wineries in [[Hollona and Diorisia]] were shut down by government mandates and their leaderships put on trial, with several facing prison time. In Anglei, owners and managers of several bottling plants were also found guilty of gross incompetence and punished similarly. Many of the adulterated wines were found to originate in Orkham in Hollona where a consulting wine chemist was prosecuted. One of the convicted Orkham winemakers, Carl Broil, proprietor of Broil Wines, committed suicide after being sentenced. | ||