A MALE PAX SUFFERS EXTREME NAUSEA AND REQUIRES EMER MEDICAL ATTN ON A B767-300 ENRTE FROM LHR TO JFK. ACFT DIVERTS TO MONCTON FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. HE WAS SERVED A CONTAMINATED BEVERAGE FROM ACFT STORES.

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DURING COAST IN; OUR PURSER NOTIFIED ME THAT A PAX HAD BECOME ILL AFTER DRINKING A SIP FROM A CAN OF SPRITE SERVED HIM BY A FLT ATTENDANT. THE CAN SMELLED STRONGLY OF A PETROLEUM BASED SUBSTANCE RESEMBLING KEROSENE. THE PAX HAD VOMITED TWICE AND WAS COMPLAINING OF A BURNING IN HIS THROAT. DISPATCH WAS CONTACTED VIA SATCOM TO BRING THEM IN THE LOOP AND GET SOME MEDICAL GUIDANCE. DR X RECOMMENDED CONTINUATION AND FURTHER OBSERVATION OF THE PAX. DURING THE NEXT HR; THE SYMPTOMS WORSENED TO A MILD TO MODERATE PAIN IN THE UPPER GI TRACT. DISPATCH WAS AGAIN NOTIFIED. THIS TIME; DR Y RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTN. WE ELECTED TO DIVERT TO MONCTON WHERE WE RECEIVED EXCELLENT SUPPORT FROM ACR B PERSONNEL. THE PAX WAS COMPLAINING OF DIZZINESS AS HE WAS TAKEN OFF THE PLANE. WE GAVE A SAMPLE OF THE CONTAMINATED BEVERAGE TO THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL TAKING HIM TO THE HOSPITAL FOR ANALYSIS. THE CAN AND REMAINDER OF THE CONTENTS WERE TURNED OVER TO THE RAMP MGR AT JFK UPON OUR ARR. SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT ARE RAISED. HOW DID THE BEVERAGE BECOME CONTAMINATED? WHAT WAS THE SUBSTANCE? WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN SERVED TO A CREW MEMBER? MY HIGHEST COMPLIMENTS TO THE ENTIRE CABIN CREW AND ESPECIALLY OUR PURSER FOR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALISM AND COORD DURING THIS INCIDENT. KUDOS ALSO TO OUR FO AND INTL RELIEF OFFICER FOR AN EXCELLENT JOB OF HANDLING THIS ABNORMAL -- THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL TO THE OVERALL OP -- EXEMPLARY. IT WAS TRULY CRM AT ITS FINEST. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE CAPT STATED THAT HE DID CONTACT HIS AIRLINE OPS CTR FOR FURTHER INFO. THEY INFORMED HIM THAT; AFTER LOOKING AT THE SIT; THEY THOUGHT THAT THIS EVENT HAD THE 'EARMARKS OF A SCAM.' WHY WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO HIM. THE PAX WAS A FOREIGN NATL WHO SPOKE LIMITED ENGLISH. HE HAD INITIALLY COMPLAINED TO THE FLT ATTENDANT IN THE AISLE PRIOR TO GETTING SICK. THE BEVERAGE CAN WAS NOT A NORMAL LOOKING CAN. IT DIFFERED IN APPEARANCE SLIGHTLY FROM THE OTHERS IN STOCK. THE MARKINGS WERE MORE WORN AND THE CAN JUST LOOKED 'OLDER.' THE CAN WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR INSPECTION. THIS CAN HAD BEEN FROM THE ACFT'S STOCK OF SUPPLIES; RIGHT OFF THE CART. THE CAPT HAS HAD MIXED RPTS RELATED TO THIS PAX. ONE SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN RELEASED; THE OTHER SAYING HE WAS XFERRED TO BOS AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 6 DAYS.