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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through the Municipal Health Office of Padre Burgos, Quezon Province received reports of deaths allegedly caused by the consumption of ZACHARY Brand of Lambanog products.

Of the eight (8) samples collected from different barangays of the Municipality of Padre Burgos, Province of Quezon, six (6) samples of ZACHARY Brand of Lambanog products were determined to contain high levels of methanol (ranging from 15.2% to 16.0%).

Methanol is a widely used and available chemical with a variety of uses including as a solvent in chemical synthesis and fuel. Ingestion of products with high amounts of methanol poses serious adverse effects like blindness, permanent neurologic dysfunction and even death.

Therefore, the public is hereby required to follow these measures for prevention and protection from consuming potentially harmful liquor, such as lambanog:

  1. Refrain from purchasing unregistered lambanog products (Please refer to attached list of registered lambanog products).
  2. Be suspicious of lambanog products that are offered for sale in informal settings (i.e. stalls without business permits, suspicious vendors, etc.) that are not licensed and regulated to sell alcohol.
  3. Do not buy lambanog products sold in unlabeled containers, those with poorly printed labelling and damaged packaging.

All concerned establishments are directed to immediately stop from distributing the above-identified violative food product until they have already been registered with the FDA, otherwise, regulatory actions and sanctions shall be immediately and strictly pursued.

All Local Government Units (LGUs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to ensure that these products are not sold or made available in their localities or areas of jurisdiction.

To report any sale or distribution of unregistered food product, kindly email us through [email protected] or call us at the Center for Food Regulation and Research (CFRR) hotline (02) 8-857-1900 locals 8112 or 8105.

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is enjoined.

Attachment:-> FDA Advisory No.2020-984