Authorities in Fiji have announced that toxicology tests conducted on drinks consumed by seven tourists who fell ill after reportedly drinking piña coladas at a resort bar have revealed no presence of methanol or other illicit substances, CNN reports.
Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame R. Gavoka delivered the update on Wednesday, offering an apology to the affected tourists for the unfortunate turn their holiday took.
The incident, which saw four Australians among seven tourists aged 18 to 56 suffering nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms on Saturday at the Warwick Fiji resort, had prompted concerns and triggered a damage-control effort from Fijian authorities. All seven tourists have since been discharged from medical care and have reportedly made a full recovery.
The news comes as a relief, particularly given the recent methanol poisoning deaths of six tourists in Laos, which heightened global awareness about the risks of consuming alcohol abroad. The cause of the Fijian tourists’ illness remains undetermined, despite the negative toxicology results.
David Sandoe, a Sydney resident whose daughter and granddaughter were among those hospitalized, previously described the incident to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He recounted how a group of tourists consuming the same piña colada cocktail at the resort experienced similar symptoms. His relatives have since returned home.
Minister Gavoka has emphasized the isolated nature of the incident, stating that no other similar cases have been reported at the resort or elsewhere in Fiji. The Warwick Hotels and Resorts, which operates luxury accommodations internationally, echoed this sentiment, calling the incident “unprecedented” in its 40 years of operation in Fiji and reaffirming its commitment to food and beverage safety standards.
While Fiji is generally considered a safe tourist destination, attracting nearly a million visitors annually, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advisory to include warnings about drink spiking and methanol poisoning following the incident.
