‘Killer’ lambanog, positibo sa methanol
Positibo sa mataas na lebel ng methanol ang mga sample ng lambanog na nakolekta sa Rizal, Laguna, ayon sa Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nitong Miyerkules.
“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,” pahayag ni FDA Officer-in-Charge and Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo.
Limang samples, aniya, na nagpositibo sa toxic levels ng methanol ay mula sa Rey Lambanog, Emma’s Lambanog store, at 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,” dagdag pa ng 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,” aniya pa.
Ayon kay Domingo naglalaman ng 11.4 percent hanggang 18.2% ng methanol ang limang sample na nagpositibo.
Bagamat ilan inuming alak, aniya, ang naglalaman ng methanol, ito ay hindi naman tumataas sa 1%. “Kung meron mang methanol content [If there is methanol content], (it should be) less than one percent. Minsan pag tinest sila (alcoholic drink) meron mababangmababa [Sometimes if they are tested, there is presence of it but in low levels]. Hindi sya pwedeng yung alcohol content talaga ng beverage,” ayon kay Domingo sa isang panayam.
Muli namang pinaalalahanan ng FDA ang publiko na bilhin lamang ang mga inuming rehistrado sa ahensiya.
“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,” ani Domingo.
Samantala, inihayag naman ni Health Secretary Francisco Duque III na nakatakdang maghain ang FDA ng kaukulang kaso laban sa mga lambanog distillery na responsible sa pagkamatay at pagkaospital ng daandaang katao.
Noong nakaraang taon lamang aniya, ay pinatawan nila ng multang P1.9 million at kinasuhan ng “administrative cases” ng ahensiya ang operator at may-ari ng lambanog distillery sa Laguna. Matatandaang 14 na katao ang napaulat na namatay noongh 2018 dahil din sa pag-inom ng 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,” pahayag ng kalihim.