THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that it will file criminal charges against those who are selling unregistered coconut liquor locally known as “lambanog.”
The agency issued the warning after recent samples of lambanog products tested positive for high levels of methanol. The said additive is suspected to have caused the deaths of some individuals while hospitalization of others.
“The FDA, through its inspectors at the Regional Field Offices (RFO) and agents of its Regulatory Enforcement Unit (REU), in coordination with the Philippine National Police, is continuously monitoring the sale of the unregistered alcoholic beverage, lambanog, and will not hesitate to confiscate these products being openly sold to the public, to prevent further loss of life to unsuspecting consumers,” the agency stated.
“FDA will be filing cases against the identified peddlers of these unregistered, out of specs, and/or adulterated alcoholic beverages, and will be coordinating with other law enforcement services, for the filing of the appropriate criminal cases against the perpetrators – especially those involved or connected with the deaths allegedly caused by these unregistered products,” it furthered.
The agency has ensured that no unregistered lambanog products are being marketed in the public.
“FDA is also monitoring other lambanog products in the market as part of its heightened Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS), which are being immediately subjected to product registration verification, and qualitative and quantitative analysis by its Central Services Laboratory (CSL), to prevent further injury and loss of life,” it said.
The agency said the consumption of products with high amounts of methanol may pose “serious adverse effects” like blindness, permanent neurologic dysfunction and even death. (Analou de Vera)