Monitoramento da autenticidade de amostras de bebidas alcoólicas enviadas ao Instituto Adolfo Lutz em São Paulo

Abstract

* A quem a correspondência deve ser enviada. RESUMOEste trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a autenticidade de bebidas alcoólicas (whisky, vodka, conhaque de gengibre, etc.) enviadas para análise ao Instituto Adolfo Lutz no período de 1993 a agosto de 1999. Devido à presença no mercado nacional de bebidas alcoólicas clandestinas, principalmente aquelas com alto valor agregado, foi realizado o monitoramento através da análise de composição química destas bebidas. Normalmente estes produtos são elaborados com álcool, água, aroma e corante caramelo e que por falta de controle dessas matérias-primas, podem oferecer risco potencial à saúde humana pela presença de metanol. A técnica empregada na análise dos componentes secundários e metanol das amostras foi realizada através da cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de ionização de chama. Observou-se que em 608 amostras de bebidas alcoólicas analisadas, 391 eram falsificadas e dentre estas 2 apresentaram teores de metanol acima do limite tolerado (200mg/100mL de álcool anidro) pela legislação em vigor. Os resultados obtidos sugerem uma grande persistência em se produzir bebidas alcoó-licas falsificadas. Desta forma, é muito importante estar sempre monitorando estes produtos e identificando os diferentes tipos de falsificações existentes no país.Palavras-chave: bebidas alcoólicas; autenticidade; cromatografia gasosa; componentes secundários; metanol. SUMMARY EVALUATION OF AUTHENTICITY OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SAMPLES EXAMINED BY THE INSTITUTO ADOLFO LUTZ (SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL). This work aimed at verifying the authenticity of alcoholic beverages (whisky, vodka, ginger spirit, etc.) sent for analysis by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo from 1993 to August 1999. The chemical composition of these drinks was studied because of the presence of illicit alcoholic beverages on the national market, especially those with a high commercial value. These products are usually elaborated with alcohol, water, flavor and caramel coloring. Since there is no control over these raw materials, these drinks could offer a potential risk to human health because of the presence of methanol. The method employed in the analysis of congeners and methanol in alcoholic products was gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detector. It was observed that 391 of the 608 samples of alcoholic beverages analyzed, were counterfeit, and 2 of them presented levels of methanol above the limit tolerated by the Brazilian legislation (200mg/100mL absolute alcohol). The results obtained suggest a great persistence in producing counterfeit alcoholic beverages. Thus, it is very important to constantly analyze these products, and identify the different kinds of counterfeiting in the country.Keywords: alcoholic beverages; authenticity; gas-chromatography; congeners; methanol. -INTRODUÇÃOFalsificar significa alterar, contrafazer, imitar uma substância que o autor propôs igualar em aparência, tornando-a externamente semelhante a original, como define o Código Penal Brasileiro.A falsificação de bebida alcoóli...

Classification of distilled alcoholic beverages and verification of adulteration by near infrared spectrometry

“…In recent years, the adulteration of these drinks has decreased and the falsification has reached another segment of the market: beverages of minor commercial value, as vodkas, brandies, rums and cachaça. Usually, most of the clandestine drinks are prepared by simple dilution of the original beverages, by water or ethanol, or by a mixture of alcohol, water, caramel and aroma (Nagato, Duran, Caruso, Barsotti, & Badolato, 2001).…”

Chemical Analysis of Suspected Unrecorded Alcoholic Beverages from the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Many studies were carried out to evaluate the chemical composition of unrecorded alcohol from Nigeria, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Guatemala, Vietnam, and Brazil, with the aim to investigate the possible health impact of unrecorded alcohol [24, 25, 34, 35]. In Brazil, Nagato et al [36] carried out the analyses of methanol, ethanol, and higher alcohol content in 608 samples of alcoholic beverages confiscated by the police, from 1993 to 1999. Among them, 391 were counterfeit, being the ethanol content below the accepted levels in all of them.…”

The application of FT-IR spectroscopy in discrimination of differently originated and aged whisky

“…Falsifications and adulterations occur mostly in illegal factories, restaurants, bars, and other retailers. It unfavorably affects producers as well as consumers health [5]. High price whisky is most often subjected to adulterations.…”