Photo courtesy of Infanta PNP
MANILA, Philippines – Stall owners in Infanta town in Quezon province prefer to discard the famous local palm liquor or “lambanog” as police warn against selling liquor products not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Infanta’s Municipal Police Station said that the stores inspected by authorities on Friday include those in Poblacion 38, Poblacion 1, and Poblacion 39. The operations were led by Infanta police’s assistant chief of police Maj. Dandy Aguilar, Mst. Sgt. Florencio Sarmiento and municipal agriculturist Eda Mendoza.
According to the reports, the stall owners were briefed on the dangers of unregistered lambanog. This came after at least 16 persons from Quezon and Laguna died due to lambanog poisoning. About 494 others were hospitalized.
Investigators said that high levels of methanol — an FDA banned substance — caused the death of the 16 individuals.