Methanol contamination of counterfeit Kirov vodka

Further to Food Hazard Warning 47/2003 issued on 10 November 2003, further information has come to light from the manufacturers, which should assist local authorities in identifying counterfeit vodka potentially contaminated with methanol.

Food Hazard Warning 47/2003 informed enforcement officers that counterfeit bottles could be identified because they have plain red caps, rather than the printed ones described. The manufacturers have since informed the Food Standards Agency that prior to 2002, bottles of Kirov vodka may have been produced with plain red caps. Stocks of these bottles have recently been identified by a number of local authorities. Additional information has therefore been obtained from the manufacturer to assist local authorities in identifying counterfeit product of Kirov vodka.

Identification of genuine Kirov bottles
Genuine bottles have red caps that have a double headed eagle printed in gold and black on the top and the word Kirov printed three times at an angle on the cap side.

As mentioned above, there remains the possibility that there is some old stock of Kirov vodka still in circulation with a plain red cap. If bottles are found with plain red caps and bearing a lot code, local authorities should contact the manufacturers, Halewood International Ltd on their customer care help line (0870 2432525), who will be able to verify if the lot code and product is genuine.

All genuine bottles of Kirov should bear an ink jet lot code applied to the neck or shoulder of the bottle.

Identification of counterfeit Kirov bottles
All bottles labelled as 'Kirov' vodka, in any size not meeting the description outlined above, should be regarded as being counterfeit.

In addition, if the contents of the bottles are cloudy and/or if there is sediment in them, then the bottles can also be assumed to be counterfeit.

Sizes of bottles affected
There are now three sizes of counterfeit Kirov vodka (70cl, 35cl and 20cl) known to be potentially contaminated with methanol. Details for identification of these products are the same as outlined above.

To assist enforcement officers in the identification of this new counterfeit product, photographs of a counterfeit 20cl bottle can be found at a link below.

Would local authorities please note that there was confusion about the description of the new design of Kirov bottle on the FSA website, and this has now been clarified.

Action to be taken by local authorities
Local authorities should take action to ensure that the counterfeit products listed above are not available in their area. In the absence of confirmed analysis reports, they should detain any bottles found and take formal samples to be tested for methanol contamination at their Public Analyst.

If these results indicate methanol contamination, appropriate action should be taken to ensure that the product is withdrawn from sale and destroyed.

While enforcement action for counterfeit products would normally rest with trading standards authorities, environmental health departments are asked to assist to ensure that all affected products are withdrawn from sale. It is essential that all local authorities liaise at county level to ensure that they co-ordinate their actions.

To give some idea of the distribution of the products, local authorities should notify the Food Incident Branch of any finds of these counterfeit products via the telephone and/or fax numbers below.

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