'Lambanog' samples had high levels of methanol – FDA
Published Dec 25, 2019 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday said that samples of "lambanog" it collected in Rizal, Laguna have tested positive for high levels of methanol.
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) "Five out of seven lambanog samples collected by Food and Drug Administration regulatory inspectors from several sellers in Rizal, Laguna tested positive for high levels of methanol," said FDA Officer-in-Charge and Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo in a statement. Domingo said that the five samples that tested positive for toxic levels of methanol were collected from Rey Lambanog, Emma’s Lambanog store, and Orlando Mapa store. “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 makes them toxic,” said the health official. "Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a flammable and poisonous liquid. Ingestion of 30ml 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," he added.
Food and Drug Administration(FDA official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) "Five out of seven lambanog samples collected by Food and Drug Administration regulatory inspectors from several sellers in Rizal, Laguna tested positive for high levels of methanol," said FDA Officer-in-Charge and Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo in a statement. Domingo said that the five samples that tested positive for toxic levels of methanol were collected from Rey Lambanog, Emma’s Lambanog store, and Orlando Mapa store. “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 makes them toxic,” said the health official. "Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a flammable and poisonous liquid. Ingestion of 30ml 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," he added.
Domingo said the five samples that tested positive contained 11.4 percent to 18.2 percent of methanol.
The health official said that some alcoholic beverages contain methanol but only less than one percent. Ideally, methanol should not be present in such products.
"Kung meron mang methanol content , (it should be) less than one percent. Minsan pag tinest sila (alcoholic drink) meron mababang-mababa . Hindi sya pwedeng yung alcohol content talaga ng beverage, ," said Domingo in an interview.
Domingo said that the FDA is requiring all manufacturers of alcoholic drinks to secure a license to operate and to register their products with the agency. The health undersecretary said that the public should only consume alcoholic beverages that are registered with the FDA. “For their safety and that of their loved ones, we urge all consumers to patronize only registered food and drink products registered with the FDA and sold by licensed manufacturers and dealers especially during the holidays,” said Domingo. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the FDA will file appropriate charges against the “lambanog” distillery responsible for the deaths and hospitalization of several individuals. Last year, Duque said the FDA imposed a monetary fine of about P1.9 million and filed administrative cases against the operators and owners of a “lambanog” distillery also in Laguna. Fourteen people reportedly died in Laguna in 2018 after drinking “lambanog.” "Despite the fact that they know what happened last year, then they should have exercised prudence and made sure that their products would undergo Certificate of Product Registration process by the FDA," said the health chief in a press conference last Tuesday. Read more: At least 8 killed, more than 100 hospitalized due to deadly ‘lambanog’