Scotland’s Food Agency has again warned consumers to be vigilant after discovering more counterfeit vodka.
The fake alcohol was recovered from convenience stores in Coatbridge and Glasgow. It was sold in 35cl bottles and fraudulently labeled as Glen’s.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and North Lanarkshire Council initially found 40 bottles of counterfeit vodka in a store in Coatbridge. The discovery was made after a customer reported that a purchased product smelled like nail polish remover.
Laboratory results from vodka sampled in August confirmed the presence of the chemical isopropyl.
Isopropanol is a toxic alcohol that is not suitable for human consumption. Ingestion of any amount can lead to toxicity and larger amounts can be fatal. Symptoms may occur immediately or delayed, up to 30 hours after ingestion. They include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, intoxication, respiratory depression and coma.
Consumer advice
FSS and the brand owner for Glen’s vodka are working to reduce the risk to consumers by providing additional information to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products.
Every genuine bottle of Glen’s vodka has a laser-etched lot code on the bottle, between the back label and the base. The bottle ID, size and fill height on the base do not vary, but the bottle shape number may differ.
A spokesperson for the Loch Lomond Group, which owns Glen’s Vodka, said: “We are working hard to support the excellent efforts of FSS and the other authorities involved to urgently address the issue. We urge customers who suspect they may have a counterfeit product to contact their local authority environmental health department or the FSS Food Crime and Incidents Unit as soon as possible.”
FSS has asked local authorities to identify and visit relevant establishments in their area to check for counterfeit products and make businesses aware of the problem.
Extent of the problem unclear
Gordon Mitchell, head of crime operations at FSS, said the scent and bottle differences between the fake and real product can help people tell the difference.
“As we do not yet know the extent of distribution of these products, but we do know the potential dangers associated with consumption, we once again urge consumers to be extremely vigilant and contact us if you have any information about the counterfeit vodka. We would also like to remind retailers that they should only purchase products from reputable suppliers.”
Paul Bannister, protective services manager at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “This product can cause serious harm to people if consumed and it is vital that people take the advice given. Do not drink the liquid if you notice a strange or unusual odor when opening the bottle.
“There are no effective quality controls or safety protocols in the production of counterfeit alcohol, which is made by serious organized crime groups purely for criminal gain, with complete disregard for the health and safety of consumers.”
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