Kenya Travel Alert

FDA Consumer Warning Kenya

June 27, 2007

The Department of State Medical Office has passed on the following warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to United States government employees overseas. The FDA warned consumers to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled as made in China, and issued an import alert to prevent toothpaste containing the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG) from entering the United States. DEG is used in antifreeze and is a solvent.

Consumers should examine toothpaste products for labeling that says the product is made in China. As a precaution, the FDA recommends consumers throw away toothpaste with this labeling. The FDA is concerned that these products may contain "diethylene glycol," also known as "diglycol" or "diglycol stearate."

The FDA is not aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from toothpaste containing DEG. However, the agency is concerned about potential risks from chronic exposure to DEG and exposure to DEG in certain populations, such as children and individuals with kidney or liver disease. DEG in toothpaste has a low but meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to these populations. Toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, but the FDA is concerned about unintentional swallowing or ingestion of toothpaste containing DEG.

For additional information please refer to the FDA link at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/toothpaste.html.

Consumers can report adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of these products to the FDA's Medwatch adverse event reporting program at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Toothpaste

American Citizen Services Unit
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy Nairobi
Tel: ( 254) 20 375 3704
Fax:( 254) 20 363 6410
Email: kenya_acs@state.gov
Emergency Telephone Number (254) 20 363 6170