Methanol-contaminated vodka removed from sale

Friday 11 October 2002

At the end of September, a woman in Manchester was diagnosed as suffering from methanol poisoning. Following investigations carried out by the Greater Manchester Police, this was linked to the contamination of a particular brand of vodka.

Local Trading Standards Officers in Manchester found the vodka, brand name Imperial Valkonov, on sale in a small number of local shops.

Samples tested showed hazardous levels of methanol and the product has been removed from sale.

All information received to date indicates that this problem is confined to the Greater Manchester/Northwest area of England.

The Food Standards Agency has now written to food enforcement officers to inform them of the ongoing incident.

The Agency is working with the police and Manchester City Council Trading Standards and Environmental Health Departments in their investigations.