High levels of methanol found in lambanog linked to deaths

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found high levels of methanol in samples of the lambanog drunk by people in Laguna, Antipolo, and Pampanga who later died.

According to Mariz Umali's report on GMA's 24 Oras on Thursday, the lambanog samples were subjected to a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector.

"The results of the test indicate methanol content. Dapat 'di ho ito kasali sa content ng mga alcoholic drinks na iniinom ninyo," FDA Director General Nela Charade Puno said.

The methanol content of the tested samples ranged from 11.7 to 21.8 percent.

"Dapat wala or kung meron man po it's a natural methanol, 0.1 percent lang. Given the amount of methanol found, ito will really cause multiple organ failure, blindness, coma, and then death," Puno added.

Methanol poisoning symptoms will only manifest 12 to 24 hours after ingestion, thus reducing the chances that the victim will seek immediate medical attention.

Lambanog is made from the sap of a coconut flower. Upon extraction, the sap is boiled and then distilled.

Based on the Philippine National Standard set by the Department of Trade and Industry, lambanog has a 30-percent alcohol content at a minimum.

This means that lambanog has a higher alcohol content than beer and the same alcohol level content as gin, rhum, tequila and whiskey.

Lambanong retailers commission third-party laboratory testers to ensure that their product is safe for consumption. But Puno also warned the public against buying lambanog without the FDA seal.

She said that homemade lambanog has a high chance of being contaminated because its producers do not have the technology to filter methanol from the alcoholic beverage.

Lambanog's packaging also plays a crucial factor.

"Another possible cause is 'yung plastic bottle. Pag plastic and then nilagyan niyo ng alcohol sa loob, madalas po 'yung leeching na tinatawag. 'Yung plastic na kemikal lumilipat ho sa alcohol," Puno said. 

The FDA is set to also run tests on samples of the lambanog drunk by those who died in Novaliches, Quezon City; Capas, Tarlac; and Calamba and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Lambanog products without the FDA seal will be confiscated by authorities, who are now conducting inspections in various parts of the country.

Sales drop

In Quezon province, sales of the liquor have significantly dropped.

According to a report by Chino Gaston in 24 Oras, a number of lambanog stores from Tiaong to Candelaria are having a hard time selling their signature product nowadays over the reports of the deaths of nine individuals in Sta. Rosa and Calamba, Laguna a week ago. 

The lambanog sellers lamented that their product is unfairly getting bad publicity.

“'Yung kagagawan kasi ng ilan, damay na lahat sa industriya,” said seller Leonisa Ayas.

“Kung nakalalason 'yan, eh di sana marami nang namatay,” added another seller, Josefina Cantos.

GMA News tried to track down the store in Candelaria which is said to be the source of the lambanog that was drunk by the nine victims, but the team has yet to find it. — Dona Magsino and Llanesca T. Panti/BM, GMA News