Campden tablets are mainly sodium metabisulphite, Na₂S₂O₅, this chemical reacts with acid (such as wine or grape juice) to release sulphur dioxide, SO₂, which is a common preservative, E220, in many food stuffs. E223 is sodium metabisulphite itself. Some campden tablets are potassium metabisulphite, E224.

Potassium sorbate is sold in most wine-making shops as "fermentation stopper" and is a very common preservative in food listed as E202.  It is the potassium salt of sorbic acid C₆H₈O₂, E200, which is present in edible Rowan (sorbus aucuparia) berries.

These "E numbers" are also used in much commercial wine-making. Unfortunately, not all wine has its ingredients listed, but that's slowing changing. If you wish to make an "organic" home wine, I'm afraid that this is not the site for you.

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