Chile issues alert over faulty condoms

SANTIAGO — Chilean authorities are issuing a health alert, saying they distributed more than 712,000 defective condoms.

Public Health Institute Director Alex Figueroa said yesterday that the easily breakable condoms were imported from China. He said that the condoms were not properly stored and they have problems "in consistency, lubrication and size."

Public health services distributed 712,224 preservatives out of the total 1,187,000 batch of condoms.

Figueroa asked Chileans to avoid using the "Kaiju" brand condoms and assured citizens that pharmacies sell other brands.

Henan Xibei Latex Company is responsible for importing the condoms. The company said in a statement on Facebook that all its sets of condoms are certified by signed documents by the Public Health Institute.