INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
At least 11 people have died after drinking coconut wine in the Philippines, including some who were celebrating at a Christmas
party.Authorities also say more than 300 others were treated in hospital after consuming lambanog in Laguna and Quezon, south of
Manila.Image:More than 300 people were treated in hospital Many were admitted after Laguna's mayor, Vener Munoz in Rizal, urged people to
see medical advice following the deaths between Thursday and Sunday.Lambanog is popular in provinces and often consumed during holidays and
celebrations.Image:11 people have died and more than 300 others were treated in hospitalUnregulated production and sales of the beverage are
common in the Southeast Asian country and it is often made illegally with dangerous additives.Image:Authorities say sometimes the lambanog
being sold has too much methanol contentJonas Del Rosario, a spokesperson from the Philippine General Hospital, said: "Lambanog (coconut
wine) is being fermented from the sap of a coconut flower."If it is fermented, it produces methanol during the fermentation
Sometimes, the lambanog being sold has too much methanol content."Image:Lambanog is popular in provinces and often drunk during holidays and
celebrationsThe country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously warned about the dangerous and prohibited use of methanol as an
additive in home brews.The Department of Health said blood tests and samples of leftover lambanog would be collected and analysed.
