United States Embassy Brasilia, Brazil
Health Alert: Alcohol Poisoning from Backer Beer
January 23, 2020
Location: Brazil, country-wide
Event: Due to deaths and illness from suspected poisoning, the Ministry of Agriculture ordered Backer Brewery to cease production of its following brands: Belorizontina, Capixaba, Capitão Senra, Pele Vermelha, Fargo 46, Backer Pilsen, Brown, Backer D2, Corleone, and Backer Trigo. Brazil’s health regulatory agency ANVISA and Backer Brewery also issued a recall of those brands from distributors and store shelves. People are advised against consuming Backer beer distributed throughout Brazil.
Actions to Take:
- Avoid consuming Backer beer or any of the brands listed above
- Consult a medical professional if you have consumed this product and feel ill.
Assistance:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Brazil Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
United States Embassy and Consulates in Brazil:
U.S. Embassy Brasilia
SES – Av. das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03
Brasília, DF – 70403-900
Phone: (61) 3312-7000
After-Hours Emergencies: (61) 3312-7400
E-mail: BrasiliaACS@state.gov
Embassy Branch Office in Belo Horizonte
Avenida do Contorno, 4520 / 2nd floor – Funcionários
Belo Horizonte, MG – 30110-028
Telephone: +55 (31) 3338-4000
E-mail: BrasiliaACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Recife
Rua Goncalves Maia, 163 Bairro Boa Vista
Recife, PE – 50.070-060
Phone: (81) 3416-3050
After-Hours Emergencies: (81) 99916-9470 or (81) 3416-3060
Email: RecifeACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Rio de Janeiro
Av. Presidente Wilson, 147 Castelo
Rio de Janeiro, RJ — 20030-020
Entrance at Rua Santa Luzia
Phone: (21) 3823-2000
After-Hours Emergencies: (21) 3823-2029
Email: ACSRio@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General São Paulo
Rua Henri Dunant, 500,
Chácara Santo Antonio,
São Paulo, SP — 04709-110
Phone: (11) 3250-5000
After-Hours Emergencies: (11) 3250-5373
E-mail: SaoPauloACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Porto Alegre
Avenida Assis Brasil, 1889 Passo d’Areia
Porto Alegre, RS – 91350-110
Phone: 51-3345-6000
After-Hours Emergencies: 51-3345-6000
Email: PortoalegreACS@state.gov
