The 28-year-old woman told national newspaper Correio da Manhã that she had bought the water at a store in Estarreja last Thursday and had had to go to two health centres and to Aveiro Hospital after drinking the water.
She reportedly suffered lesions in her throat and stomach and was sent to hospital with suspected gastroenteritis to have her stomach pumped.
Jenny Silva told the newspaper that she had bought the 0.33cl bottle of Pingo Doce water as she was thirsty, and drank most of the bottle in one go.
She said she had felt a “sharp pain” and gave the water to her mother, who was with her, to try. Her mother reportedly also complained of the same symptoms; “a strong pain and a taste of ethanol.”
Ms. Silva said she immediately told an employee and made a complaint in the store’s company book.
She says the management asked her to leave the bottle behind but she kept a sample of the water for herself.
The woman further claims to have logged complaints with the GNR police and health and safety authority ASAE.
Pingo Doce confirmed that it has removed that particular batch from sale and that Ms. Silva’s is the only reported case.
The water is now to be tested by ASAE and by a laboratory.