Toxic wine. In northeast Cambodia, at least 19 people have been killed after drinking undrinkable rice wine. 172 fell ill. “Laboratory examinations revealed that the high level of methanol in the wine had caused these deaths,” Ly Sovann, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Health, told AFP.
The examinations carried out on the bottles at the origin of this health disaster showed an excessively high level of methanol (a neurotoxic alcohol): 12% instead of the usual 0.15%. The hypothesis of spoiled dog meat, which had been mentioned in the first place, was therefore ruled out in view of the results of the analyses.
This artisanal alcohol had not received authorization from the health authorities. In the province of Kratie where the tragic event took place, rice wine was immediately banned for sale and the population was invited to stop consuming any drink manufactured without government authorization.
Strengthen food security
Methanol is a very dangerous product used as fuel in hot plates and fondue sets. A sip of methanol can lead to serious poisoning. The person who ingests should be taken to hospital immediately.
The World Health Organization has been called upon to work with the Cambodian Ministry of Health to strengthen food security in the country.
This is not the first time that a rice wine scandal has hit Cambodia: in 2010, 17 people were killed after drinking rice wine contained in a bottle of herbicides, recalls the AFP.
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