Ask Dr. Gourmet

Are you aware that Amy's meals contain alcohol?

I just found your reviews for the Amy's meals. Did you notice the organic alcohol?

I have been eating these bowls for years and just noticed the alcohol. Since I am a former alcoholic, I cannot have these anymore. How disappointing!

I just wondered if you noticed. Thank you for your service.

Dr. Gourmet Says...

You are right to be concerned, and the alcohol in question is likely part of the Tamari sauce that is used in the dish.

Tamari sauce, like soy sauce, is a fermented product made in the same way that vinegars are fermented from wines. During the fermentation - of the soybeans in the case of tamari or grapes in the case of vinegar - alcohol is produced, specifically ethanol. We looked into this previously when a reader sent a question about the alcohol content of balsamic vinegar which contains between 0.1% and 0.2% alcohol.

There appears to be more alcohol in the soy or Tamari sauce. I have read reports of up to 2% of alcohol in soy sauce and it appears soy sauce was banned in the United Arab Emirates for that reason.

If a teaspoon of soy sauce contains 2% ethanol, that works out to 100 microliters. One drop of liquid is defined as containing 50 microliters, so if there were a full teaspoon of soy sauce in one serving of Amy's meals, that means you are getting about 2 drops of ethanol.

Does this mean that you should avoid all soy sauce, Tamari sauce, and vinegars (keep in mind that even cider vinegar is a fermentation product using apples)? That has to be a decision for every person based on their history of alcoholism and sobriety.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet