Brazilian States Intensify Efforts to Combat Methanol Poisoning Crisis
Brazilian states are escalating their responses to methanol poisoning incidents linked to adulterated alcohol, with inspections and seizures underway.
- • Six deaths reported in São Paulo due to suspected methanol poisoning.
- • Governor Caiado launches inspections in Goiás to prevent further cases.
- • 802 bottles of alcoholic beverages seized in São Paulo as part of enforcement actions.
- • Pernambuco is investigating additional methanol poisoning cases.
Key details
As Brazil grapples with a troubling wave of methanol poisoning cases, state governments are ramping up actions to protect public health. On October 1st, the São Paulo state government reported a total of six deaths suspected to be linked to methanol from adulterated alcoholic beverages. Of these, one death has been confirmed, prompting swift government intervention to prevent further incidents, according to Agência Brasil.
Officials have reported 37 cases of methanol poisoning, with 10 cases confirmed to contain methanol in victims' blood. As a precautionary measure, six establishments in São Paulo were closed, including establishments in neighborhoods such as Bela Vista and Itaim Bibi. A beverage distributor’s state registration was suspended, and a substantial seizure of 802 bottles of alcoholic beverages occurred, alongside the sealing of 128,000 vodka bottles in Barueri. In a related enforcement action, two individuals were arrested in Americana for their involvement in counterfeiting activities associated with these beverages.
In response to this crisis, Goiás Governor Ronaldo Caiado has initiated a state-wide inspection of beverage distributors to mitigate the risk of methanol poisoning. He stated, "I determined today a major action with all police forces... to inspect all distributors throughout Goiás," ensuring public safety remains a priority. Interestingly, Caiado reassured residents that there are currently no suspected cases of methanol poisoning in Goiás, despite the alarming reports from São Paulo and ongoing investigations in Pernambuco, where three more cases are being reviewed concerning a specific whisky bottle.