Pariconha, Alagoas poisoning claims one life, hospitalises six

On the weekend of 26‑27 July 2026, a suspected food‑borne poisoning event occurred at the free market in Pariconha, Alagoas. Seven men fell ill after consuming a locally made alcoholic beverage known as “raizada” or a similar “caldo”. One of the victims, 36‑year‑old farmer Gilberto Alves Vicente, died in the Hospital Regional do Alto Sertão, while six others were admitted with similar symptoms.

Health officials collected the suspected drinks and sent samples to the state forensic laboratory (Lacen) for toxicological analysis. Biological samples from the deceased and the survivors were also taken for further testing, with results expected within about a week. The municipal health secretary, Gizely Sá, said: “Sete pessoas, durante feira livre, chegaram a passar mal… Todas as vítimas são do sexo masculino.”

The Instituto Médico Legal (IML) of Arapiraca recorded seven bodies over the weekend, including Vicente, linking the deaths to the poisoning investigation. Authorities continue to investigate the cause, and no official link between the beverage and the fatality has been confirmed yet.