Method allows quick and reliable results, without needing to test all seized bottles, guaranteeing 99% accuracy
The Government ofthrough the Technical-Scientific Police, created an unprecedented protocol in Brazil to identify the presence of in adulterated alcoholic beverages. The measure aims to combat beverage adulteration, which has already caused five confirmed deaths in the state. The new method, which is already being shared with other states, uses portable equipment to analyze seals, seals and labels, allowing methanol to be read and identified without having to open the bottle. This speeds up the process and guarantees 99% reliability in screening, improving the logistics of the Civil Police and forensics.
The initiative is part of a set of actions coordinated by the Crisis Office installed in the state. Recently, “Drop by Drop”, which inspected suspicious establishments, resulted in the suspension of state registrations in seven locations, bringing to 15 the total number of businesses preventively prevented from issuing invoices and purchasing goods.
Manuel Lara, director of the São Paulo State Health Surveillance Center, reinforces that the beverage and food sector is one of the most monitored. “We ask for invoices for the acquisition of these products. Many times they are not available. The products are there, he claims that he bought them from either a street vendor, or the internet, or another place that did not issue a note to him. So, we check the notes, if it matches, the number of drinks he purchased, whether they are those drinks and, and if they are there, present, or he has proof that he sold them. And that is already a reason to make an interdiction precautionary. And the police collect the samples, while we even wait for the analyses, precisely to avoid the risk. This is the function of surveillance”, says Lara.
According to the latest report from the State Department of Health, the state of São Paulo has 23 confirmed cases of methanol poisoning, with 148 cases still under investigation. In addition to the five confirmed deaths, six other deaths are being investigated on suspicion of the same cause.
*With information from Julia Fermino
*Report produced with the help of AI
