Methanol found in counterfeit Kirov vodka

Monday 10 November 2003

The Food Standards Agency is renewing its health warning about counterfeit vodka contaminated with methanol after more illegal spirits were found on sale. Tests last month on counterfeit bottles of Kirov Vodka, seized by Customs and Excise from an off-licence in Sidcup, Kent, showed they contained unacceptably high levels of methanol.

Vodka should not contain methanol at such levels. If drunk, it could cause serious harm to health. Anyone who has a bottle of this vodka should not drink it and should contact their local authority or the police. The counterfeit products could be available in other parts of the country.

The Agency has issued a Food Hazard Warning relating to the counterfeit bottles.

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.

See the, press release, food hazard warning and product images linked below for full details of how the bottles of contaminated counterfeit vodka differ from the genuine product.