Health Officials Maintain Red Alert For "Exotic" Products
Costa Rican health officials are maintaining a red alert following the discovery of toxic Chinese products in the Costa Rican market.

The Ministerio de Salud (ministry of Health) is asking consumers to be extremely careful when purchasing "exotic" products, not wanting to target their comments or their alarm specifically to Chinese products.

The alert stems from the discovery of toxic toothpaste being sold in Costa Rica under the brand name "Mr. Cool" and "Genial".

Fears are that the toxic toothpaste is being also sold under other brand names and Health officials are asking consumers to closely look at products labels closely.

The toxic toothpaste contains diethylene glycol, a chemical used in radiator coolants and attributed to the cause of 56 deaths in Panama when it was found in cough medicine in the last several months. The tainted toothpaste was also found in Nicaragua stores during this week, prompting Health officials from that country to take similar actions.

The ministra de Salud, María Luisa Ávila, explained that the toxic toothpaste came into Costa Rica illegally, masked in boxes of toothbrushes that do not required a health permit for entry.

Avila said that consumers should be aware that toothpaste sold in Costa Rican stores should have the health department registration number. If a product does not have the registration number on its packaging it has not been approved for sale in Costa Rica, minister Avila assured.

The Health minister also is asking consumers to be extremely careful when purchasing stuffed animal toys from China and the presence of "pufferfish" in Tilapia imported from China.

Avila said that the stuffed animals may be contaminated with a harmful bacteria. In the case of the Tilapia, the minister said they are responding to an alert in the U.S. after several cases of intoxication where reported. Avila said that if the imported Tilapia has swollen a pufferfish, if cut wrong can release a toxic venum contained in the pufferfish that can result in death if eaten.

Months back the Asociación de Consumidores (consumer association) and the office of Defensa del Consumidor (government agency protecting consumers) found a number of Chinese products without the Spanish translation on its labels.

All consumable products must include, in Spanish, the contents of the product and the expiry date, along with the Ministry of Health registration number. Importers of consumer goods have to add the label to each product if it does not contain the Spanish translation, before it can be sold in Costa Rican stores.