Five Out Of Seven Samples Of Lambanog Positive For Methanol
LAMBANOG – The Food and Drug Administration said that five out of seven samples of lambanog were discovered to have high levels of methanol.
The said liquor was responsible for the deaths of 15 people and 300 more individuals poisoned and hospitalized.
According to Eric Domingo, FDA officer-in-charge (OIC), the said five samples were contained from 11.4 to 18.2 percent of methanol and were collected from three areas: Emma’s Lambanog store, Orlando Mapa store and the Rey Lambanog brand.
“Very low levels of methanol may be present in alcoholic beverages, provided they are byproducts of natural fermentation. The high levels found in the samples make them toxic,”
Domingo further pointed out that ideally, methanol should not be present in alcoholic beverages and if there are any, it should not be more than one percent per, for example, one liter of liquor.
Methanol is a by-product that was made naturally when distilling the liquor. It was, however, removed since it cannot be metabolized by the body.
When consumed, formaldehyde will form and will become formic acid, a harmful substance that can lead to metabolic acidosis.
Based on the report, also known as wood alcohol, Domingo said that it is a flammable and poisonous liquid.
“Ingestion of 30 ml is potentially fatal. Absorption through the skin or via inhalation may also lead to toxic effects. This is due to methanol being converted to formaldehyde and formic acid in the liver,”
Some symptoms of metabolic acidosis include:
- stomach ache
- vomiting
- nausea
- dizziness or disorientation
Domingo added that the agency requires manufacturers of alcoholic drinks to secure a license to operate and register their products in order for these to be regularly monitored.
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