Drug regulators in Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Tanzania have announced the recall of a shipment of Benylin baby syrup made by the US-based Johnson & Johnson's Kenvue unit, following similar actions by South Africa and Nigeria over alleged toxicity.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe said in a statement that although the product was registered for use in Zimbabwe in 2023, there was no record of the syrup being imported in the regulator's database.
The regulator said there were concerns that the product could enter the southern African country's market through illegal means, so it issued a recall notice if a batch fell into its hands.
"There is a concern that, through illegal means, the aforementioned batches of Benylin Paediatric Syrup may find their way into the local market. As a precautionary measure, the authority is issuing a recall notice of this product," the statement said.
Rwanda's Food and Drugs Authority said in a statement that its safety service had not detected any side effects from Benylin syrup but issued a recall as a "precautionary measure."
On Sunday, the recall of two batches of Benylin was announced by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. The regulator said that in addition to South Africa and Nigeria, the affected batches of Benylin syrup were distributed in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
This is not the first time Johnson & Johnson has been in the spotlight for the allegedly harmful health effects of its pharmaceutical products in Africa. Last June, Johnson & Johnson baby powder was recalled by Rwanda's Food and Drug Administration over allegations that the company's products cause cancer and that the talcum powder which they are made from contains the dangerous element asbestos.