Three liquor products of a Hanoi-based company are being recalled after they were found to contain extremely high levels of methanol, causing five people to die.

The Food Safety and Hygiene Department ordered the recall after testing samples of the products, produced by 29 Hanoi Import and Export Joint Stock Company, located in Hanoi’s Long Bien District. The tests show that the methanol levels of the liquor is about 2,000 times higher than the acceptable level. The testing was carried out after five men in northern Quang Ninh province died after drinking the liquor. The three kinds of liquor are sparkling red wine, 29 Hanoi sticky rice alcohol, and sticky rice vodka. The victims had drunk some of all three products, produced on October 12, 2013. The department asked all local health departments nationwide to detect and recall these products and warn consumers not to buy or drink them.  By yesterday, concerned agencies in Quang Ninh recalled more than 6,400 two-liter cans of 28 Hanoi sticky rice alcohol.

According to the department, five cases of alcohol poisoning caused by the liquor occurred from December 2 to 7 in Quang Ninh, affecting 15 people, of whom five died. Methanol, which is a colorless liquid with a mild odor of alcohol, is toxic to humans, and is quickly absorbed by ingestion and inhalation, and more slowly by exposure to the skin. During a recent inspection of the company, inspectors found that one type of liquor was under production despite the fact that the license for its production had expired. Inspectors also discovered four kinds of liquor whose contents were inconsistent with the registered labels. In addition, they discovered 13,000 bottles of liquor without labels stored in a company warehouse. The department has ordered the company to suspend all of these products for investigation.