Killer cocaine drink source still unclear
Food safety authorities are investigating the source of a Caribbean soft drink, labelled as Cole Cold Pear-D, after it was contaminated with dangerous levels of cocaine, leading to the death of one man in Southampton.
It is still unclear as to whether the contamination of the 590ml/20fl oz drink was an isolated incident or if other products could also be affected.
The Food Standards Agency issued an alert and advised consumers purchasing a product with an identical description in the UK to refrain from drinking it and take it to the nearest police station.
The product packaging lists the manufacturer's name as S.M. Jaleel & Co Ltd, Otaheite, Trinidad. However, the company claimed the Cole Cold Pear-D product had not been exported to the UK and that the label was last produced in September 2013 for the local Caribbean market.