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Tainted alcohol has led to 19 deaths in Costa Rica, authorities say
Costa Rica: DETECTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES adulterated with methanol: "GUARO GREAT APACHE", "SPIRITS RED STAR", "GUARO MONTANO", "BARON ROJO SPIRITS" "SPIRITS TIMBUKA" Y "AGUARDIENTE MOLOTOV"

July 18, 2019 from the Washington Post and Costa Rican Ministry of Health:

Translated by Google Translate: The Ministry of Health, through the Directorate Regulatory Products Health Interest, alert the general population on the sale of products packaged in bottles with allusive labels "Guaro Gran Apache", "Firewater Red Star", "Guaro Montano "," Firewater Red Baron "," Aguardiente Timbuka "and" Aguardiente Molotov ", which according to results from laboratory samples are adulterated with methanol.

On 5 July, the Ministry issued an alert adulterated with methanol of a product identified on the label as "Guaro Montano" according to the collected samples. Further to this alert it found that other products with labels that indicate "Brandy Red Baron", "brandy Molotov" and "Aguardiente Timbuka," are also adulterated with methanol. Therefore samples were taken similar products and adulteration found in packaged and labeled as "Guaro Gran Apache" and "Firewater Red Star".

Note that the "Guaro Gran Apache", "Firewater Red Star", "Guaro Montano", "Firewater Red Baron", "Aguardiente Timbuka and" Aguardiente Molotov "are registered with the Ministry of Health, so it is suspected that in the domestic market of such marks circulate counterfeit products, however it impossible to distinguish between the original and adulterated, making use of the precautionary principle, the following recommendations were issued:

Recommendations to the general population

• Do not consume or acquire "Guaro Gran Apache", "Firewater Red Star", "Guaro Montano", "Firewater Red Baron", "Aguardiente Timbuka" or "Aguardiente Molotov" if not guaranteed to be the original product without contaminating or until health alert is lifted.
• Not market "Guaro Gran Apache", "Firewater Red Star", "Guaro Montano", "Firewater Red Baron", "Aguardiente Timbuka" or "Aguardiente Molotov" if it is not guaranteed to be the original product without contaminating or until rises the alert.
• Immediately report to the Ministry of Health to e denuncias.drpis@misalud.go.cr if you have made a painting of methanol poisoning with adulterated liquor or spirits of the names of the products specified herein or others. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, acute head and ataxia (lack of coordination of body movements).
• Report to the Ministry of Health, through the mail denuncias.drpis@misalud.go.cr those establishments or individuals and companies suspected of being marketed adulterated liquor or spirits.

The Ministry of Health is carrying out the actions to reduce the exposure of consumers to the products adulterated, as well as related investigations, in coordination with other institutions, to determine the subjects related to this adulteration.

Ed. note: Kashrut.com is posting this as a health alert. We do not have any information on the kosher status of these products.