The National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima) set off alarms throughout the country after detecting the illegal marketing of a product that pretends to be the popular ‘Yellow Manzanares sugar-free brandy’.
The health alert arises after it was proven that criminals are improperly using the image, name and even the logo of the renowned popular music singer Yeison Jiménez to hook consumers.
This product has been officially classified as counterfeit, as it does not have any support from the Caldas Liquor Industry (ILC), the legitimate owner of the registry.
The situation was initially reported by the ILC, which upon inspecting the packaging and labeling, confirmed that the liquor did not leave its production plants.
According to Invima, this counterfeit liquor lacks the minimum guarantees of quality and traceability, which represents an incalculable risk to the health of those who ingest it.
As it is a fraudulent product, it is unknown what type of alcohol it contains or under what hygienic conditions it was packaged, which could lead to serious poisoning or permanent damage to the nervous system.
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To prevent citizens from falling into the trap, the authorities detailed several signs that reveal illicit packaging. The counterfeit product does not include the mandatory legend prohibiting sale to minors, lacks the historical reference of origin and, curiously, omits the phrase “Made in Colombia.”
Furthermore, the use of Yeison Jiménez’s image is the ultimate proof of deception, since the original design approved by Invima does not contemplate collaborations with artists on its front label.
Given this scenario, Invima emphatically asked citizens to refrain from purchasing this version of the liquor. For those who already have the product in their homes, the recommendation is to stop using it immediately and report the establishment where they purchased it.
Departmental police and health authorities have already begun operations to remove this counterfeit liquor from shelves and bars, seeking to protect the lives of consumers and the integrity of regional brands that comply with the law.
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