Scare Over Chinese Products

As Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, US and Australia recall toothpaste, toys and blankets

China-made Colgate toothpaste are found to contain toxic chemicals and toys also have excess levels of lead paint.

Have you brushed your teeth today? This is something you have been doing everyday. Pick up the toothpaste one more time and carefully verify the product. Is it made in China? Turn and look at the toys your child plays with; where are they from? This time round, better hope it is not made in China. Check all the toys again and verify their destination of production.

Hope you also had a sound sleep on your usual blanket last night. Well, it might surely not be so much of a good news if your Colgate toothpaste, blankets or your children/wards' toys are made in China products.

China-made Colgate toothpastes have been found by a couple of countries -South Africa, New Zealand, and Mozambique - to contain toxic chemical - diethylene glycol (DEG). The National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC) of our sister country Nigeria has recalled all Colgate toothpastes from stores, supermarkets and pharmacies upon its discovery of DEG in Chinese toothpaste Colgate.

Barely three weeks Nigeria declared "Only made in Nigeria toothpastes are safe for public use". Ghana is yet to have such an alert or warning about the possible presence of DEG.

In the production of toothpastes, propylene glycol which is said to be expensive is used as sweeteners. DEG, which is more production-cost friendly, has been used by some Chinese manufacturers of Colgate in place of propylene glycol. DEG is said to cause abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, damage to kidneys and liver and if ingested in large amounts can be fatal.

Recently the world's largest toys manufacturer, US Company Mattel recalled 18.6 million toys which were made in China. They were found to contain high levels of poisonous lead paint and dangerous magnets. It has been estimated that the recall of these toys could cost Mattel about $100 million (£50m). The 30-billion dollars toys industry had these toys made from China. Where were these recalled toys disposed? Possibly, your child might be in possession of one of those. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, kidney failure, anemia and irreversible brain damage in children.

In Ghana, imported Chinese toys are in our markets. They are sold everywhere. Mattel and other high selling toys companies in the world have contracted 8000 Chinese factories to make toys for them. Imagine the rate of influx of these dangerous items rapidly filling our homes as playmates of several of our children.

Sunday World can assure you that there are at least two brands of Colgate toothpaste in circulation - the red pack tagged "Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste, Maximum Cavity Protection" and the green pack "Colgate Herbal". However, other Chinese toothpastes are currently on the shelves in supermarkets and stores.

When Sunday World visited the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), we learnt from the Testing department of GSB that no official statement could be given regarding the presence of DEG in Colgate toothpastes. However, an official of the department disclosed that some individuals have come to test for traces of DEG in toothpastes but could not disclose their findings to any person or organization. He said the only way we could verify would be to bring samples of the products for testing whose results would be ready in three weeks.

Further probing at the Chemistry department of the GSB revealed that chemists have been mandated to test Chinese toys for traces of poisonous lead and dangerous magnets. The official who spoke on anonymity disclosed that the results of the testing will be ready in less than two weeks. We hope GSB will notify the public of the result of this test for the sake of our health.

There is no intended attempt by this newspaper to denigrate in anyway the Chinese government but the health of Ghanaians may obviously be at risk especially as our Government has not recalled any "made in China" product from the market. Although, most imported items including food, drinks, delicacies, blankets, clothes, etc are from China.

The USA has recalled several of Chinese made products including bicycles, pet food products, toys, car tyres, etc. In June this year, a company in Florida recalled more than 170,000 Chinese toothpastes contaminated with DEG. The brands in question were Shir Fresh Mint Fluoride, Shir Fresh Ice, Shir Mint Fluoride and Shir Fresh Cool.

Although, the Chinese authorities closed down 180 factories that were found to have used industrial chemicals and additives in their products, not a single Chinese product has been recalled by our local authorities here in Ghana. Does this mean these products are absolutely safe for our use especially the suspicious Colgate toothpaste, toys and blankets from China?

What should the over 20 million Ghanaians do amidst this threat since our economy is liberal?