Latest news with #Glen's
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Warning after counterfeit vodka seized by Food Standards Scotland
Midlothian Council's Environmental Health Officers have been checking licensed premises after Food Standards Scotland (FSS) issued a public health warning about counterfeit vodka. Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The FSS confirmed the vodka it seized contained the chemical isopropyl, which can be harmful and even fatal if consumed. The counterfeit vodka recovered was sold in 35cl bottles (commonly known as half bottles) and fraudulently labelled as Glen's. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When opened, the counterfeit vodka may have a strange smell and taste differently to genuine vodka and therefore should not be drunk. Genuine bottles of Glen's will carry these markings, with no variance in their details. If consumed, even small amounts of isopropyl can be dangerous. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, confusion, slow breathing, and in severe cases, coma or death. Counterfeit products with isopropyl alcohol will smell and taste very different to normal alcohol. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Every genuine bottle of Glen's vodka has a laser etched lotcode applied to the bottle between the rear label and the base of the bottle. They will also have the following markings on the base of the bottle - the highlighted three identifiers pictured will not vary in either position or detail. A spokesperson for FSS said that the organisation is currently unaware of how widely the counterfeit vodka has been distributed. They said: 'The scale of distribution of counterfeit product is still unknown so if you believe you may have consumed alcohol that has a strong smell and a very different taste to normal and are showing any of the symptoms described, please contact the NHS 24 on 111 immediately. 'If symptoms care severe, call 999.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Anyone who believes that they may have bought this counterfeit vodka by detecting a strong smell or taste that is different from normal, do not drink it or dispose of it, but please contact FSS Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit – foodcrime@ – for further advice. Alternatively contact Scottish Food Crime Hotline anonymously on 0800 028 7926 or online, if you have any information.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
West Lothian residents warned to be vigilant after counterfeit Glen's vodka seized
West Lothian Council is urging residents to be cautious after reports of counterfeit vodka in circulation. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The council's environmental health team are now carrying out spot checks on local businesses this week after counterfeit vodka was seized last week in another local authority area. There are no known cases in West Lothian but the council said it is taking proactive measures to warn residents of the counterfeit product that contains the harmful chemical isopropyl. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The recovered counterfeit vodka was sold in 35cl bottles and was fraudulently labelled as Glen's. On July 25, Food Standards Scotland issued a public health alert, advising people to look out for vodka with a strange smell, an unusual taste, and to check the laser etched code on the bottle. The recovered counterfeit vodka was sold in 35cl bottles and was fraudulently labelled as Glen's Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, confusion, slow breathing, and in severe cases, coma or death. Food Standards Scotland said: 'The scale of distribution of the counterfeit product is still unknown so if you believe you may have consumed alcohol that has a strong smell and a very different taste to normal and are showing any of the symptoms described, please contact the NHS 24 on 111 immediately. If you have severe symptoms, call 999.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'Following a national alert from Food Standards Scotland regarding counterfeit Glens Vodka being sold in Scotland, additional proactive checks on businesses will be carried out from this week. Environmental Health Officers are reminding members of the public to be vigilant if purchasing this product and have shared advice on what to look out for.' How to spot a fake The public should check for a laser etched lot code applied to the bottle between the rear label and the base of the bottle. A genuine bottle of Glen's vodka will also have three markings on the base of the bottle – two of which will not vary in position or detail | Food Standards Scotland/Brapps, flickr Every genuine bottle of Glen's vodka has a laser etched lot code applied to the bottle between the rear label and the base of the bottle. They will also have markings on the base of the bottle and the public should make sure to check for these. If you believe you may have purchased this counterfeit vodka by detecting a strong smell or taste that is different from normal, you should not drink it or dispose of it, and instead contact the environmentalhealth@ team who will provide further advice and assistance. You can also contact the FSS Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit at foodcrime@ for further advice.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Do NOT swim' warning at Scots beach after raw sewage pumped into water
The reason for the hazardous water has been revealed WATER DANGER 'Do NOT swim' warning at Scots beach after raw sewage pumped into water Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A 'DO not swim' warning has been issued after raw sewage was dumped into the sea. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are aware of an ongoing pollution incident at Aberdeen. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Beach-goers have been ordered not to bathe in the water due to hazardous material. The issue was caused due to an earlier power outage at Nigg Waste Water Treatment Works on Friday 25th July. A spokesperson for SEPA said: 'SEPA was made aware by the operator of an ongoing pollution incident at Aberdeen bathing water due to an earlier power outage at Nigg Waste Water Treatment Works caused by an unplanned power cut in the area. 'Although power has now been restored to the treatment works, during the power outage, screened sewage was discharged into the sea close to Aberdeen harbour. 'As a precaution, SEPA's electronic bathing water signage will remain in place to reflect the temporary guidance against paddling or bathing until SEPA are satisfied that the situation has returned to normal.' It is unclear when the water will be safe again to enter. Elsewhere Scots drinkers have been warned about fake vodka after a potentially fatal chemical was found in counterfeit bottles. Fans of popular brand Glen's Vodka have been issued with the alert after the worrying issue was flagged up. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) said it had found 35cl bottles, or a half bottle, disguised to look like genuine Glen's. A chemical known as isopropyl was found in the illegally labelled vodka, seized by the agency, which can be dangerous if consumed. The FSS said vodka containing isopropyl will taste and smell 'very different' in comparison to normal alcohol. They also said the effects of the drink would be much stronger than normal. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include stomach pain, vomiting, dizziness, sore head, confusion, and slow breathing. In some severe cases, FSS have warned it could lead to a coma or death. Genuine Glen's vodka has a laser-etched code imprinted on the back and base of the glass bottle. A legitimate product can also be identified by size, fill height and a bottle ID - FSS said these markings would not vary in position or detail.
Metro
4 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Health warning over counterfeit vodka made with medical-grade alcohol
Health officials in Scotland have warned fans of Glen's vodka to keep an eye out for fake half bottles containing medical disinfectant. Scammers have hijacked the popular brand to sell counterfeit products containing the chemical isopropyl, which is typically used in hospital settings or in hand sanitiser. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) say the fake booze will smell and taste 'very different' to the Glen's product people recognise. Even small amounts of isopropyl can result in abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness and headaches, they warned. Severe cases can leave drinkers in a coma or even dead. Genuine bottles of Glen's have a laser-etched code between the rear label and the base of the bottle which the fake bottles will not. More Trending Anyone concerned they might have drunk the counterfeit vodka, and who is experiencing symptoms, is urged to contact NHS 24 on 111 immediately. Glen's, one of the cheaper brands of vodka on the market, is a popular target for scammers. FSS has previously sent investigators to seize dozens of bottles of fake spirit using the same label from a shop in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. And in September last year, the UK-wide Food Standards Agency sent out a warning about another fraud involving isopropyl alcohol in Glen's bottles. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The one drink you should never order from a restaurant wine list MORE: How a generation-bending TikTok campaign saved a local boozer MORE: Forget about Prosecco — drink this £6.97 sparkling wine from Asda instead
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots warned about fake dangerous vodka disguised to look like popular brand
Counterfeit half bottles of the top-selling spirit have been discovered BOOZE ALERT Scots warned about fake dangerous vodka disguised to look like popular brand Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS drinkers have been warned about fake vodka after a potentially fatal chemical was found in counterfeit bottles. Fans of popular brand Glen's Vodka have been issued with the alert after the worrying issue was flagged up. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Glen's Vodka, bottled in Ayrshire Food Standards Scotland (FSS) said it had found 35cl bottles, or a half bottle, disguised to look like genuine Glen's. A chemical known as isopropyl was found in the illegally labelled vodka, seized by the agency, which can be dangerous if consumed. The FSS said vodka containing isopropyl will taste and smell 'very different' in comparison to normal alcohol. They also said the effects of the drink would be much stronger than normal. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include stomach pain, vomiting, dizziness, sore head, confusion, and slow breathing. In some severe cases, FSS have warned it could lead to a coma or death. Genuine Glen's vodka has a laser etched code imprinted on the back and base of the glass bottle. A legitimate product can also be identified by size, fill height and a bottle ID - FSS said these markings would not vary in position or detail. BBC Scotland reported last year that similar counterfeit bottles had been discovered by The Food Standards Agency (FSA). In a statement, Food Standards Scotland said: 'The scale of distribution of counterfeit product is still unknown. I drank 7 bottles of vodka & 30 glasses of wine a week- I smashed teeth & was fired for being drunk, the booze broke me 'If you believe you may have consumed alcohol that has a strong smell and a very different taste to normal and are showing any of the symptoms described, please contact the NHS 24 on 111 immediately. 'If you have severe symptoms, call 999.' Glen's is the second-biggest selling spirit in the UK. Founded in 1972, It is bottled in Catrine, Ayrshire
