Hungary Minister Warns Of Lethal Must Gas As Early Harvest Begins

Hungary's social and family affairs minister warned the public on Sunday about the dangers of must gas, a byproduct of wine fermentation that is invisible, odorless and potentially lethal. Kátai-Németh Vilmos issued the warning in a Facebook post, noting that this year's grape harvest is starting two to three weeks earlier than usual due to extreme heat, making caution in wine cellars especially important now. The carbon dioxide released during the fermentation of grape must can cause oxygen deficiency, nausea and, in severe cases, suffocation, the minister said.

He advised people to enter cellars only after proper ventilation and air quality checks. Kátai-Németh also cautioned that the traditional candle test is not reliable on its own, and recommended a personal gas concentration meter that signals falling oxygen levels as a more effective safeguard.