Until today’s article in New York Times, the name Eduardo Arias meant nothing to me. However, Eduardo is responsible for worldwide awareness of the presence of diethylene glycol in toothpaste.
Mr. Arias, a 51-year-old Kuna Indian living in Panama, made his discovery by reading the label of a toothpaste imported from China. The government, or should I say the governments of 34 countries affected by this discovery, overlooked it.
Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans and animals and can even lead to death. Until recently, the best-known poisoning case is the Elixir Sulfanilamide disaster that caused the deaths of more than 100 people and led to the passing of the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
It is very troubling that no one noticed that this poisonous ingredient--found in products not intended for dental hygiene, such as antifreeze--was being sold all around the world until Mr. Arias raised the red flag. Maybe there should be better laws about monitoring imported products. Or maybe laws should have public health in mind.
Until then, we should all be Eduardo Arias.