The Food Standards Agency has issued a health warning today about drinking counterfeit whisky contaminated with unacceptable levels of methanol uncovered this week.

The contaminated fake bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky were discovered in an operation by Customs and Excise and police at a suspected counterfeit spirits bottling plant in Berkshire this week.

These fakes have been subtly changed from ones previously found, presumably to make them appear more like the genuine article. Previously they had a fake neck label with the word 'distillers' wrongly spelt as 'distilleries'. The fake neck label has now been removed.

David Statham, the Agency's Director of Enforcement and Food Standards, said: "Tests carried out on the counterfeit whisky show that it has been contaminated with methanol. At the levels detected, consumers would be at risk of harmful effects including severe stomach pain and blindness.

"The fake whisky should be avoided and anyone who thinks they may have drunk some within the last 24 hours should contact their doctor. We strongly advise people to check that they have the genuine article, rather than this latest version of fake Johnnie Walker."

Methanol should not be present at the levels found in the fake Johnnie Walker whisky and could cause serious harm to anyone drinking it. The effects of methanol poisoning include severe abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness and blurred vision leading to blindness. At higher levels it can also lead to breathing difficulties and coma.

The Agency is also advising that counterfeit bottles of Highland Pride Whisky may be on sale in the UK after rolls of fake labels for this drink were also found on the premises this week along with the fake Johnnie Walker.

As a precaution, anyone who thinks that they may have one of these fake Highland Pride Whisky bottles is advised not to drink the liquor as it has not been possible to safety test it.

Anyone who has purchased bottles should take it to the local authority for investigation. Other products found at the same time did not test positive for unacceptable levels of methanol.

Details, along with pictures of the counterfeits, can be found on the Agency website www.food.gov.uk

(GMcG)