Koblenz, Germany - German inspectors have seized nearly 3 million litres of wine from Italy and Spain in the past year because it contained added glycerine, a food-safety agency said Friday.

The wine, including sparkling wine, has been brought to the German state of Rhineland Palatinate for blending with other wines.

Added industrial glycerine is harmless to drinkers, but is not allowed under wine-purity rules. It makes wine taste better.

Staff of the state food inspections service in Koblenz said the wine had been discovered during routine checks of the consignments.

At a single winery near the western city of Trier, 1.7 million litres of sparking wine intended for use as a base had been seized. (dpa)