Dozens of People in Panama Killed by Medicine Traced to China

A New York Times report indicates a counterfeit chemical found in medicines used by humans killed up to a dozen people in Panama.

The Sunday edition of the New York Times reports that interviews and records show a Chinese company exported glycerin that was 99.5 percent pure which makes it deadly to the human body.

The Times reports states the source of this poison was hidden by Spanish and Panamanian middlemen who removed the suppliers names from shipping documents. The practice of removing names from shipping documents is used in order for distributors to continue business with certain companies.

The Panamanian health agency used this product to produce medicines unaware of the fact they were using diethylene glycol. Diethylene glycol, a chemical cousin of antifreeze, may cause kidney and neurological damage when ingested.

This report by the Times indicates that investigators in four countries were able to verify Taixing Glycerine Factory was the maker of this deadly counterfeit chemical. These investigators were able to trace down the company's certificate showing this glycerin shipment was 99.5 percent pure.

The sale of this poisonous syrup was brokered by a state owned business in Beijing. This sale then went to middlemen in Barcelona, Spain before reaching its final destination in Panama.

So far no one in China has been charged with these deaths in Panama. Chinese officials say their investigation indicates testing done on the product from Taixing Glycerine Factory found the suspected product was free of glycerin. A spokesperson for the Chinese drug agency also said Taixing Glycerine Factory has not broken any law.

Last year, Taixing Glycerine Factory spokesman Wan Qigang told the New York Times that only industrial use glycerine is made at the factory. Wan denied to answer any further questions from a Times reporter when this reported pointed out the website for Taixing Glycerine Factory shows an ad for 99.5 percent pure glycerine.

The safety of Chinese exports is coming under intense scrutiny lately because of concerns about tainted pet food that was traced back to an ingredient made in China. The Chinese industrial chemical, melamine, is being linked to an unknown number of cat and dogs deaths that have led to the recalling of more than 100 brands of pet food.

Read more about Chinese exports at Yahoo News