Teething Formula Kills 84 Babies

(Lagos, Nigeria) Officials announced that 84 infants and children have now died from swallowing a poisonous teething syrup, My Pikin Baby Teething Mixture, which was first introduced in November 2008.

The product has been found to contain a high concentration of diethylene glycol, a substance commonly used in anti-freeze and brake fluid. Ingestion causes kidney and liver damage, sometimes fatally. Children experienced fever, convulsions and diarrhea before dying.

Diethylene glycol is used by medicine, food and toothpaste counterfeiters as a substitute for glycerine, a safe but more expensive ingredient.

Fortunately, Nigerian investigators have discovered the source of the tainted product.

"The deadly agent entered the production process of My Pikin Baby Teething mixture when an official with the Lagos-based maker procured the tainted ingredient from an unregistered chemical dealer in a sprawling slum near the city's main dump."

Therefore, use extreme caution in purchasing and using medicines, foods and toothpaste containing ingredients that can be traced back to a slum near the city dump.


[Update 2/15/09]

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced that 12 people have been arrested thus far in connection with the poisoning deaths. Five are employees of Barewa Pharmaceuticals and seven marketed the tainted teething formula. Authorities promise zealous prosecution.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.