Woman dead, another under observation after drinking gin

A woman died and another remained under observation at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) after drinking a citrus-forward gin.

A report by Chino Gaston on GMA News' 24 Oras said the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) received a report saying the two women, whose identities were not disclosed, were rushed to the hospital after throwing up and feeling nauseated before collapsing.

"Nakita kasi nila yung pasyente na parang nahihilo, nagsusuka tapos medyo talagang nanghihina tapos parang nawalan ng malay and then they did some lab tests and... I think one of the patients hindi nila ma-revive even during the time na initial, early after consult pa lamang. Yung isa yata mina-manage pa until now," said Undersecretary Eric Domingo, FDA officer-in-charge.

The FDA is looking into the possibility that the women suffered from methanol poisoning and metabolic acidosis, which happens when the body is either making too much acid or failing to get rid of enough acid.

The FDA has already obtained a sample of the Cosmic Carabao Gin that the two women drank to determine if the alcoholic drink was to blame for what happened to them.

"May changes sa blood at saka sa blood chemistry that will show it but of course hindi naman 100 percent iyon. Marami kasing iba't ibang sakit. But just to make sure na methanol poisoning is one of the things being considered, what we did is nagpapunta na tayo ng mga ahente natin from the FDA doon sa company and they are also collecting samples at ang sample na ito ay ite-test na sa ating laboratory to confirm kung ano ang content niya at kung may possibility na may methanol siya," Domingo said.

According to the FDA, the liquor's manufacturer, Juan Brew, has a license to operate until 2023, though its Cosmic Carabao Gin has yet to be given a certificate of product registration (CPR).

The FDA said the alcoholic drink cannot be sold to the public yet while its manufacturer is still applying for a CPR for it.

"Hindi pa dapat binebenta sa market at wala pa siya na authority o authorization for marketing at hindi pa naiinspeksyon ng fda yung factory kung paano ginagawa ito at hindi pa taaga natetest yung produkto," said Domingo.

GMA News tried getting in touch with Juan Brew through its business phones but no one was picking up or answering text messages. A security guard at the company's office in Parañaque, meanwhile, said the firm has yet to issue a statement on the matter. — MDM, GMA News