News Archive - Wine health warning

A health warning has been issued about an Australian red wine known to have been on sale in a South Ockendon supermarket.

This week the Lidl supermarket chain has withdrawn bottles of the Australian red wine Creston Bay Cabernet Shiraz.

The wine contains high and potentially dangerous levels of sulphur dioxide at up to 17 times the permitted level. The Food Standards Agency warns that simply opening the bottle could cause an asthma attack in susceptible people.

Thurrock Environmental Health Officer Hilary Bright added: "For most people, it is unlikely to have any harmful effects, but it will probably taste very unpleasant."

The wine, which was sold from Lidl stores, priced £2.99, has a distinctive label, featuring a kangaroo and a gum tree. Only bottles with the year 2002 on the label are covered by the warning. Anyone with one of the affected bottles should return it to the Lidl store for a refund.

• Thurrock trading standards is also warning about a batch of vodka which is contaminated with methanol.

This is a counterfeit of the well-known Kirov brand and has been sold in 35cl and 70cl bottles.

Drunk in quantity, methanol can have very serious health problems, including breathing difficulties. In extreme cases it could result in .someone slipping into a coma.

If you have a bottle of Kirov vodka and would like to check that it is genuine, contact the Food Team at Thurrock Council on 01375 652111/2110 and they will check the bottle for you.