A WARNING has been issued to consumers after bottles of fake vodka were seized following concern from a member of the public.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and North Lanarkshire Council are warning consumers to be extra vigilant following a sizable discovery of the fake spirit being sold in Coatbridge.
More than 40 bottles of counterfeit vodka, fraudulently labelled as Glen's, were discovered after a member of the public reported that the product they had purchased smelled of nail varnish remover.
READ MORE: Meghan Gallacher resigns as deputy leader of Scottish Tories
North Lanarkshire Council's environmental health officers and FFS removed the products from shelves and samples have been sent for analysis.
Consumers are being asked to take extra caution when purchasing alcohol and are encouraged to check any recently purchased products.
Ron McNaughton, head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit at FSS, said: “Drinking these types of products presents a huge risk to health. The labelling, the look of the packaging and the smell can suggest something’s not right.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross 'tried to quit as Scottish Tory leader last year in selection plot'
"When you buy counterfeit alcohol you have no way of knowing what ingredients it contains and how strong it is, which could lead to serious illness and intoxication following one or two drinks.
“Please get in touch if you believe you have bought any counterfeit products.”
Councillor Helen Loughran, convener of the environment and climate change committee at North Lanarkshire Council said: “This was a significant discovery by officers from a retail premises in Coatbridge, who acted quickly to remove the fake products from sale.
"Our environmental health and food safety officers remain vigilant to the potential issue of counterfeit alcohol within North Lanarkshire to protect public health.’’
Anyone who believes they may have purchased counterfeit alcohol should contact their local council’s environmental health service or the FSS Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit –foodcrime@fss.scot.
North Lanarkshire Council’s environmental health can be contacted at 01236 856361 or environmental-health@northlan.gov.uk.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here