Travellers warned to watch out for dangerous fakes
A fortnight’s summer break isn’t complete without picking up a bargain or two, but many travellers return home with goods that are not only fake but dangerous.
The ‘replica’ watch stops ticking within a few minutes of getting off the plane and the ‘cut price’ trainers split straight away – but more seriously, many counterfeit products, readily available abroad, pose big health risks.
Fake spirits, for example, can contain high levels of methanol, a chemical that can cause blindness, coma, and even death. In March 2003, a 42-year-old woman died after drinking counterfeit vodka contaminated with methanol.
Counterfeit perfume can often burn the skin or leave people with a nasty rash. Tests on some fake fragrances have revealed that urine has been used as a stabiliser. Another turned out to be pond water with a fragrance added.
Fake sunglasses may not provide any protection at all against ultra-violet rays, leaving the wearer at risk to eye damage. And because cigarettes are not subject to any regulations, they often contain excessive levels of tar and nicotine, presenting an increased risk to smokers. Some, made in China, have been found to be contaminated with substances such as plastics, wrapping materials, and even sand.
The dangers have been highlighted by a partnership of trading standards officers in the UK, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, in a bid to prevent people being taken in while abroad.
They have urged travellers to examine bottles and cartons carefully to see if they have been tampered with, and look closely for spelling and artwork mistakes on packaging.
John Fox, a principal trading standards officer at Leicester City Council, one of the officials involved in a campaign to encourage greater safety while abroad, said: “We’ve come across drink that called itself vodka which was actually pure methylated spirits. That would cause liver damage, possibly blindness.”
Report by News from Abroad
Phil Davies
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