Methanol contamination of S. Petersbourg and St. Petersburg vodkas

Tuesday 24 June 2003

Category B: For Action

Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of an incident of methanol contamination of two brands of vodka, namely S. Petersbourg and St. Petersburg brands.

These were discovered in the Waltham Forest area of London, but it is possible that they may now be available in other parts of the country.

Symptoms of Methanol poisoning include:

• severe abdominal pain
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• blurred vision leading to blindness
• coma with breathing difficulties

The symptoms of methanol poisoning can be delayed for several hours so anyone who may have drunk any of these spirits may not immediately be aware of the dangers.

Identification of the Products

S. Petersbourg vodka

Markings:

White front label bearing the following information:
S. Petersbourg (in black lettering) Vodka (in red lettering), 70cl, e, 37.5%Vol
The label also bears a gold crown with cross swords and two red lions at the top and a gold image of buildings at the bottom.

White back label bearing the following information:
S. Petersbourg (in black lettering) vodka (in red lettering)
Produced and bottled by cod.ACCISA GE A0002A - NE (GE)
70cl,e, 37.5% and the bar code 8003151000006.

Bottles found also bear the lot code number L 601 - 02

St. Petersburg Vodka

Markings:

The bottles so far found have been 1 litre bottles. The labelling on these bottles are identical to the S Petersbourg brand, with the exception that they have 1 LTR as the volume as opposed to 70cl, and have different names on the label.

Local authorities are strongly recommended to refer to the photographs attached below before taking action.

Actions taken by the Food Standards Agency

The FSA is working with the relevant local authority and other organisations to try and establish the source of the spirits.

To date the FSA has no information on the possible distribution of this product, but if further information becomes available, Local Authorities will be advised accordingly.

Action to be taken by local authorities:

The products detailed above present a serious health risk if consumed in enough quantity, and do not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety Act 1990 due to contamination with methanol.

Local Authorities should take action to ensure that these products are not available within their district.

If these products are found, enforcement officers should ensure that they are withdrawn from sale and destroyed, if necessary using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990. To give some idea of the distribution of the product, local authorities should notify the Food Incident Branch of any finds of these products via telephone and/or fax numbers.

Local Authorities should be aware that St Petersburg is a genuine brand of vodka that was produced in Russia, and shipped to Germany where it was bottled exclusively for the USA export market.

This product has not been bottled or sold for 4 years and is labelled as 40% vol, however it is important that before any enforcement action is taken, that the details of any bottles found are checked against the details contained within this Food Hazard Warning.

Local Authorities may wish to consider the use of local publicity to alert local consumers and traders.

Local Authorities should use the FSA press release as a guide to the content of any local news release.

It is expected that action by local authorities will be initiated as soon as possible after receipt of this food hazard warning.