People buying vodka should check the printed labels carefully in order to ensure they are purchasing a genuine product.
This is the advice of police and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) after it was found that the brand Drop Vodka contains high levels of a chemical called propan-2-ol, which can also be found in industrial cleaning products.
Several batches of bottles have been seized up and down the country, while the FSA has urged people not to drink the firm's illegal product.
Anyone who does consume the vodka is risking vomiting, dizziness and even falling into a coma.
"We are working closely with local authorities to catch these criminals who are trying to profit by putting people's health at risk," said FSA spokesperson Colin Houston.
Earlier in 2011, a large amount of counterfeit Jacob's Creek wine was seized in Bournemouth after someone noticed a spelling error on the peelable labels.
Many brands have been the victims of counterfeiting, so it may be necessary to create special, bespoke printed labels to deal with the problem. One solution could be a scratch-off panel revealing a seal of authenticity underneath.
Denny Bros Ltd, 30 November 2011
