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Listen to this siteMonday 10 November 2003
Category B: For action
Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of an incidence of methanol contamination of counterfeit Kirov Vodka. This was discovered in Sidcup, Kent, but it is possible that it is available in other parts of the country.
Two different size bottles, 70cl and 35cl were sampled and found to be contaminated with methanol. The 70cl bottle was heavily contaminated with methanol and would present a serious health risk if consumed in sufficient quantity. The 35cl bottle contained less methanol and while not a serious health risk at that level, there appears to be a large variation in levels of methanol across batches, and other similar bottles may be found to contain higher levels.
Symptoms of methanol poisoning include:
The symptoms of methanol poisoning can be delayed for several hours so anyone who may have drunk any of these spirits may not immediately be aware of the dangers.
Identification of the products
Kirov 35cl bottle
The clear bottle has a red metal screw top with crimping along the top circumference. The cap has no markings or writing on it.
The front label has gold lettering on a white background, with red/gold boxing around the word Kirov. The coat of arms has a red shield, gold crown above and gold double headed eagle on the shield. The word 'VODKA' is underneath in white on a red background. The words 'PRODUCE OF UNITED KINGDOM' and 'HALEWOOD VINTNERS LTD, ROBERTTOWN WF15 7LL' are in black at the lower edge of the label within a red/gold box, which also contains the following information: '35cl e 37.5%vol'.
The back label has a white background, with a gold lined border and red letters. It has a red scroll bearing the words 'IMPERIAL PALACE', and a red/white crown under the name 'KIROV' and above 'VODKA'. The label also contains the information '37.5%vol and 35cl e' in black. It bears the barcode 5 011166 004714 in black and 'HALEWOOD VINTNERS LTD., ROBERTTOWN WF15 7LL, UK' in red under the barcode.
Kirov 70cl bottle
The clear bottle has a red metal screw top with crimping along the top circumference. The cap has no markings or writing on it.
The front label has gold lettering on a white background with red /gold boxing around the word 'KIROV'. The coat of arms has a red shield, gold crown above and gold double headed eagle on the shield. The word 'VODKA' is underneath in white on a red background. The words 'PRODUCE OF UNITED KINGDOM' and 'HALEWOOD VINTNERS LTD, ROBERTTOWN WF15 7LL' are in black at the lower edge of the label within a red/gold box, which also contains the information '70cl e and 37.5%vol'.
The back label has a white background, with a gold lined border and red letters. It has a red scroll bearing the words 'IMPERIAL PALACE' and a red/white crown under the name 'KIROV' and above 'VODKA'. The label also contains the information '37.5%vol and 35cl' in black. It bears the barcode 5 011166 004707 in black and 'HALEWOOD VINTNERS LTD., ROBERTTOWN WF15 7LL' in red under the barcode. The label also bears two symbols in black to the right of the barcode: a black and white arrow joined in a circle and two links of a chain with the words Cotisation Securite Sociale making a circle around them.
To assist enforcement officers in the identification of these counterfeit products, photographs of the affected bottles and their labels can be found via the link below.
Differences between counterfeit and genuine product
Genuine bottles of Kirov vodka will have a printed red cap with a double headed eagle printed in gold and black on the top and the word 'Kirov' printed three times at an angle on the cap side. The counterfeit bottles have only plain red caps.
All genuine bottles of Kirov vodka will also have an ink jet lot code applied in black ink to the glass. The counterfeit bottles so far examined did not have any lot code markings.
Enforcement officers should be aware that since these bottles were produced the manufacturers have significantly changed the design of genuine Kirov bottles and labels and a picture of the new design of bottles can be found via the link below.
Action taken by the Food Standards Agency
The FSA is working with the relevant local authority and other
organisations to try and establish the source of the spirits. At present the precise distribution of affected products is not known.
Action to be taken by local authorities
Local authorities should take action to ensure that the products listed above are not available within their area. In the absence of confirmed analysis reports they should detain any bottles found and take formal samples to be tested for methanol contamination at their public analyst.
If these results indicate methanol contamination that is a risk to health, action should be taken to ensure that the product is withdrawn from sale and destroyed.
Whilst enforcement action for counterfeit products would normally rest with trading standards authorities, environmental health departments are asked to assist to ensure that all affected products are withdrawn from sale. It is essential that all local authorities liaise at county level to ensure that they co-ordinate their actions.
To give some idea of the distribution of the products, local authorities should notify the Food Incident Branch of any finds of these counterfeit products via tel: 020 7276 8448 or fax: 020 7276 8446.
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(Image 1MB) Kirov Vodka 70cl Bottle View the front and back labelsDownload image
(Image 1MB) Kirov Vodka new product design View the new label designDownload image
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