FDA says consumer vigilance needed after ‘lambanog’ deaths

The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday called on the public to be vigilant on consuming products after eight people died in “lambanog” drinking sessions in Sta. Rosa and Calamba in Laguna.

READ: 8 die of poisoning after drinking sessions in Laguna

Michelle Anne Lapuz of the FDA’s Legal Services Support Center advised the public to always check their website and advisories to determine which are FDA registered products.

“Kailangan po merong vigilance sa consuming public. Eto nga po may advisory even sa online pinapalabas po natin na be very sure kasi meron na mang mga lambanog na FDA registered,” Lapuz said in a forum at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City.

The victims drank “lambanog” (coconut liquor) which according to the FDA and the Department of Health – Epidemiology Bureau was not registered with the FDA and contained high levels methanol.

Products that are not registered with the FDA pose potential health hazards to the public since they have not gone through agency’s evaluation and testing.

Nela Charade Puno, FDA Director General said the deaths are alarming as the agency now acts to address the issue.

“Kami po ay nababahala. Kami ho ay umaaksyon. Ang DOH ang katulong namin ngayon to ensure na ang binebentang lambanog ay hindi makakadulot ng toxicity o sa pagkamatay,” Puno said.

The FDA added that products with high amounts of methanol could lead to blindness, permanent neurologic dysfunction and even death.”

Lapuz then said home breweries lack the equipment needed to assure the quality of products. Home breweries also have difficulty determining ethanol from methanol, he added.

“Yung mga home breweries ang problema diyan o kadalasan wala silang equipment to test yung quality nung naproduce nilang produkto. Di nila madetermine kung ethanol ba yung nandun o methanol ba yung andun? yung difference ng toxic na alcohol?” she said.

According to the FDA website, FDA-registered lambanog brands are Philippine Firewater Lakan, Supremo Philippine Firewater, Philippine Firewater, Supremo Philippine Firewater, San Juan, Ram-Ciel Lambanog, San Juan Lambanog, San Juan Premium Lambanog.  /muf