Lambanog’s safety may now be tested via a Balik Scientist’s technology
IT is the time of the year when people, including Filipinos, engage in merrymaking that includes drinking of alcoholic beverages, including wine.
However, there were instances in the past that local alcoholic drinks caused health hazards owing to high methanol levels.
There is good news that this danger can now be prevented through a project of a Balik Scientist, who is hosted by hosted by the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Dr. Fiorello B. Abenes developed a technology to test the methanol level of lambanog (coconut wine), a Balik Scientist Program (BSP) news release said.
Abenes is a Professor Emeritus in Calpoly Pomona University in California, USA, and one of the first 15 Balik Scientists engaged by the program since 1975.
Through his engagement with MMSU, Abenes led the research and development of a practical assay to detect methanol in lambanog.
The assay is based on the indirect detection of methanol after its oxidation and transformation to formaldehyde by chromotropic acid (formaldehyde specific color indicator), the BSP said.
Another good news is that the method is suitable for semi-quantitative measurement of methanol in herbal distillates, not only in the production quality control of small companies with no laboratory equipment and adequate financial resources, but also the quality check of point of-sale samples from commercial markets.
During a random test of five commercially available lambanog products, Abenes and his team in MMSU found that all brands contained methanol beyond safe levels, the BSP said.
Through the methanol detection assay technology, Abenes hopes that small businesses, merchants and even micro entrepreneurs can improve the quality and safety of their products in order to meet local and international standards.
The technology of detecting substantial methanol levels in lambanog is just one of the significant accomplishments of Abenes under the BSP with MMSU.
He shared his expertise as a Balik Scientist with the University of the Philippines Los Baños and Central Luzon State University.
Through the engagement of Filipino experts through the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology, there is a means to promote information exchange and accelerate the flow of new technology into the country through strengthening the scientific and technological manpower of the academe and public and private institutions, the BSP said.
The program encourages Filipino scientists, technologists, and experts to return to the Philippines and share their expertise in order to promote scientific, agro-industrial, and economic development, including the development of the country’s human capital in science, technology, and innovation.
The enactment of the Balik Scientist Act in June 2018 paved the way for DOST to grant returning Filipino scientists with competitive benefits such as daily subsistence allowance, health insurance, and roundtrip airfare.