Methanol beverage adulteration in São Paulo

An investigation into methanol-adulterated beverages in São Paulo has led to calls for stricter legal classifications and enhanced supply chain monitoring. A parliamentary inquiry commission concluded that tampering with alcoholic drinks should be classified as a “heinous crime,” recommending federal legislative changes and a national traceability system to combat clandestine counterfeiting and re-bottling networks.

State Health Secretariat data indicated 54 cases of methanol contamination and 12 deaths through May 2026, with law enforcement seizing hundreds of thousands of counterfeit items and making 46 arrests. The inquiry also suggested that distributors and establishments be held accountable for purchasing products without verified provenance.

In related legal developments, the Public Ministry of São Paulo (MPSP) has filed criminal charges against two men in Guarulhos regarding the sale of adulterated vodka. The case stems from a September 2025 incident where a customer suffered severe methanol poisoning, resulting in total blindness in both eyes. Investigations by the 16th Criminal Prosecution Office of Guarulhos revealed that the establishment’s owner purchased alcohol from various suppliers without fiscal documentation to prioritize lower prices. A second defendant allegedly sourced the vodka from unknown vendors near the São Paulo Municipal Market, distributing it as a well-known brand without proof of authenticity. Forensic analysis of eight samples seized from the establishment confirmed methanol concentrations between 34.6% and 40.9%, concluding the products were highly toxic. The defendants face charges of bodily injury and falsifying products intended for consumption.