Greek authorities have recalled a batch of Strawbar Origin strawberry spirit after laboratory tests revealed unsafe levels of methanol, tax officials said.
The order applies to batch 003 of the alcoholic beverage, sold in 50-centilitre bottles with an alcohol content of 40 percent by volume. State analysts judged the product non-compliant and unsafe for consumption after finding that its methanol concentration exceeded the legal limit for strawberry distillates.
The recall was announced by the General Directorate of the General State Chemical Laboratory, which operates under Greece's Independent Authority for Public Revenue, known as AADE. The issue emerged during scheduled checks when officers from AADE's audit unit, MEOEL Macedonia, collected samples of the fruit spirit for official examination.
Specialists at the Chemical Service of Central Macedonia conducted the laboratory analysis, which confirmed that the spirit violated national safety standards.
Manufacturer and distribution details
The strawberry spirit is produced by the Enteka distillery, registered to Ioannis N. Kokkaliaris in Nea Nikopoli, a village in the regional unit of Kozani in northern Greece. Distribution of the bottles across the Greek market was managed by Life Science Lab College Single Member S.A.
Fruit spirits, commonly known as fruit distillates or eau de vie, are produced by fermenting and distilling whole fruits. Pectin naturally present in fruits like strawberries can break down into methanol during fermentation, requiring distillers to follow strict production controls to remove the compound before bottling.
Methanol risks and market withdrawal
Methanol is a toxic alcohol that poses severe risks to human health when swallowed. Exposure to high concentrations can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and severe metabolic acidosis, while severe poisoning can lead to permanent blindness or fatal organ damage.
AADE stated that the distributor is cooperating with the General State Chemical Laboratory to immediately withdraw all remaining quantities of batch 003 from the domestic market. Official audits and inspections remain in progress.
Consumers who have already purchased bottles from the affected batch have been urged not to drink them.
