Brazil has 29 confirmed cases of methanol poisoning

The Ministry of Health announced this Friday (October 10, 2025) that Brazil has 29 confirmed cases of methanol poisoning due to ingestion of adulterated alcoholic beverages. There are 5 more people than last Wednesday (Oct 8).

Of the 29 confirmed cases, 25 were registered in São Paulo, 3 in Paraná and 1 in Rio Grande do Sul. In total, there are 217 notifications under investigation, a smaller number than in the last balance (when there were 235 suspicions).

According to the report, the number of suspected cases discarded also increased. Now there are 249.

Suspicions

The State of São Paulo is currently investigating 160 notifications, which represents 73.73% of the total. Next, Pernambuco appears with 31 suspects, Rio Grande do Sul (4), Mato Grosso do Sul (4), Piauí (4), Rio de Janeiro (3), Espírito Santo (3), Goiás (2), Alagoas (1), Bahia (1), Ceará (1), Minas Gerais (1), Rio Grande do Norte (1) and Rondônia (1).

Deaths

The Ministry of Health report reported that there has been no other confirmation of death caused by ingestion of methanol since last Wednesday (8). The five people who died were from the state of São Paulo.

However, 12 deaths are under investigation (one more case than last Wednesday). The suspected cases are in Ceará (1), Minas Gerais (1), Mato Grosso do Sul (1), Pernambuco (3) and São Paulo (6).

What is methanol?

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol (CH₃OH), is a chemical substance highly toxic, volatile and flammable. It is a simple, colorless alcohol, with an odor similar to that of common alcoholic beverages. In the past, it was called “wood alcohol” because it is obtained from the distillation of logs. Today, it is produced on an industrial scale, mainly from natural gas.

The liquid is used as a raw material for the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid, resins, solvents e paints. It is also present in antifreeze, window cleaner e paint removers. In Brazil, one of the main applications is in the production of biodieselthrough transesterification.

Lethal dosage

The ingestion of 4 ml the 10 ml can cause irreversible damage, such as blindness, according to the CFQ (Federal Chemistry Council). The council warns that small doses already pose a real threat to life. Estimates that 30 ml of pure methanol can be lethal.

Effects on the body

The greatest danger of ingestion appears in late effectsstates the Federal Chemistry Council. Methanol is metabolized in the body into formaldehyde and formic acidthe latter responsible for causing metabolic acidosis — a serious imbalance in blood pH. Symptoms include:

• accelerated breathing;
• increased heart rate;
• persistent abdominal pain; and
• damage to visionwhich can progress to irreversible blindness.

Diagnosis and treatment

According to Abno (Brazilian Association of Neuro-ophthalmology), .

If you suspect ingestion or prolonged contact with methanol, do not induce vomiting and take the person to the hospital urgently. The sooner diagnosis and treatment are carried out, the lower the risk of death or serious consequences.

Treatment is with intravenous medications (fomepizole) which, like ethanol, can inhibit methanol metabolism, preventing the formation of formic acid, which causes the most serious sequelae. The patient may undergo gastric lavage and hemodialysis.

The risk of adulteration

According to the Federal Chemistry Council, the problem arises when methanol is used criminally in adulteration of alcoholic beverages.

Ingestion, inhalation or prolonged contact may cause immediate symptomssuch as nausea, dizziness, vomiting and central nervous system depression.

Prevention and control

To avoid poisoning, it is recommended:

• check the origin of the drinks purchased;
• be wary of prices well below the market; and
• Do not consume products without official registration.

Strict supervision by government bodies and periodic laboratory analyzes carried out by chemical professionals are essential to prevent tragedies. They have the role of identifying contaminants, ensuring the quality of products and raising awareness among the population about the risks of consuming adulterated drinks.

With information from Agência Brasil