Police in Brazil are investigating a mass methanol poisoning incident that has led to the discovery of an underground alcohol production facility suspected of causing the deaths of two individuals. The poisoning has resulted in 225 confirmed cases, primarily in São Paulo, with three fatalities linked to the tainted alcohol. Authorities revealed that a secret alcohol factory in São Bernardo do Campo was using contaminated ethanol from gas stations to manufacture the lethal drinks that claimed the lives of two victims.
It was disclosed that two of the deceased individuals had consumed vodka from the same establishment. Public Security Secretary Guilherme Derrite stated that the counterfeit beverages contained over 40% methanol mixed with ethanol, potentially sourced from the same gas station or chain of stations. The police investigation revealed that the addition of methanol to ethanol was aimed at boosting the drink volume to enhance profitability. Following the exposure of the clandestine factory, law enforcement conducted searches, dismantled the facility, and seized materials for forensic analysis.
Reports indicated that the factory owner will face charges of forgery, corruption, or adulteration of food items, which could lead to imprisonment and fines upon conviction. The victims, including Bruna Araújo de Souza, Marcos Antônio Jorge Júnior, and Ricardo Lopes Mira, all from São Paulo, succumbed to the poisoned alcohol. The health ministry reported a total of 225 methanol poisoning cases, prompting the closure of several businesses and seizure of thousands of alcohol bottles, cautioning the public against consuming unlabeled drinks.
The contaminated beverages primarily included gin, vodka, and whiskey, prompting Brazil’s health minister Alexandre Padilha to label the situation as unprecedented in the country’s methanol poisoning history. The World Health Organization urged member states to enhance surveillance, clinical management, prevention, and risk communication to combat the circulation of tainted drinks. Methanol poisoning, as defined by the NIH, poses severe health risks, with even small amounts potentially causing blindness and other critical symptoms, leading to coma or death if left untreated.
In a similar incident last year, six individuals, including a British lawyer, died in Laos due to suspected methanol poisoning from adulterated drinks. Methanol, a toxic alcohol found in products like paint thinner, poses significant health hazards due to its clear, tasteless, and odorless nature, making contamination detection challenging. The NHS warns that methanol ingestion can result in various debilitating symptoms, emphasizing the importance of prompt medical intervention to prevent severe outcomes.