Police arrest women with more than 160 bottles of counterfeit whiskey.
According to the São Paulo state government's Health Department, the state has confirmed 10 cases of poisoning and is investigating another 27 suspected cases.
247 - Federal highway police arrested this Thursday (2) Two women were found transporting 162 bottles of counterfeit whiskey in Jaboticabal, 350 kilometers from the capital of São Paulo. According to the São Paulo state government's Health Department, the state has confirmed 10 cases of methanol poisoning and is investigating another 27 suspected cases. At least 59 cases have been registered in Brazil.
The suspects, aged 23 and 34, were transporting counterfeit beverages and labels from the city of São Paulo to Jaboticabal, where they live. The two were traveling on the Brigadeiro Faria Lima Highway, in the municipality of Dobrada, when they were stopped by highway patrol.
Analysts are investigating whether the cases are related to the consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages. The police operation against the arrested women did not specify if or how the beverages were adulterated.
Risks, symptoms and recommendations
Methanol ingestion results in a very serious medical emergency and can lead to death. The main symptoms include visual disturbances (blurred vision, partial vision loss, or even blindness), as well as intense malaise characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and sweating.
The addition of methanol to beverages is prohibited. However, small amounts may be present due to the fermentation of sugars and pectins. The federal government sets very low acceptable residue limits, which do not constitute authorization for use.
If you notice something suspicious in a drink, it is not recommended to perform "tests" at home such as smelling, tasting, or setting the liquid on fire.
The recommendation is to seek immediate emergency medical attention and contact specialized services, such as:
- Anvisa's Poison Control Center: 0800 722 6001
- São Paulo Poison Control Center (CCI): (11) 5012-5311 or 0800-771-3733 – available for calls from all over Brazil
Composition and use of methanol
The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) reported that methanol is a simple alcohol (formula CH₃OH), composed of one carbon atom, three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group. At room temperature, it is in a liquid state.
Methanol is important to the chemical industry, serving as a base for the manufacture of solvents, adhesives, flooring, coatings, and other products. In large-scale production, it is usually obtained from natural gas.
Unlike methanol, ethanol is obtained primarily through the fermentation of sugars present in raw materials such as sugarcane, corn, rice, wheat, barley, oats, and sorghum. Ethanol is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and, in moderate doses, can be consumed safely.
How to identify a genuine beverage
Procon-SP advises consumers to be wary of prices that are significantly below market value, as this may be a result of fraud or tax irregularities. Other points to watch out for include packaging with irregular seals or lids, missing mandatory information such as CNPJ (Brazilian tax ID), address, batch number, and manufacturer, and misaligned, damaged, or error-printed labels.
