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Toothpaste Scare Spreads to Hospitals, Prisons

Recall List Expanded as Investigators Trace Contaminated Tubes

June 28, 2007

Toothpaste • Toothpaste Importers Face Charges In California • Gilchrist & Soames Recalls Toothpaste • Toothpaste Scare Spreads to Hospitals, Prisons • China Pledges to Improve Food Safety • Another Importer Recalls Chinese Toothpaste • Colgate Warns of Counterfeit Toothpaste • Importer Recalls Toothpaste After FDA Warning • China Faults U.S. FDA In Toothpaste Flap • FDA Warns Chinese Toothpaste May Be Contaminated • Chinese Toothpaste Scare Spreads to Canada • FDA Bans Toothpaste from China after 51 Deaths in Panama • Foreign Toothpaste Illegally Imported, Sold in U.S. --- Complaints • Crest

The toothpaste scare that has led many countries to restrict any toothpaste imports from China may be more prevalent in the U.S. than originally thought.

The New York Times reported this morning that about 900,000 tubes containing the potentially dangerous chemical, diethylene glycol, an ingredient found in antifreeze, were distributed to hospitals and detention centers in southern states.

Initial reports from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and ConsumerAffairs.com revealed that the tainted tubes were mostly found in discount stores.

Officials in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina reported that mental health hospitals, prisons, juvenile detention centers and some hospitals serving the general public had received the Chinese toothpaste.

Officials in those states said all tubes have been replaced with toothpaste made outside of China.

Diethylene glycol is used as a cheaper alternative to the thickening agent, glycerin.

A Georgia official told the Times that in 2002 the state paid about 9 cents a tube for the tainted toothpaste.

The FDA said there are no reported deaths or illnesses from the Chinese-made toothpaste.

The FDA is telling consumers to either return any tainted tubes for a refund or throw it away.

“This stuff does not belong in toothpaste, period,” a spokesman for the agency, Doug Arbesfeld, said. “No Chinese toothpaste has come into the country since the end of May.”

Recalled Brands

Manufacturer: Goldcredit International Enterprises LTD Products:

• Dr. Cool Coolmint
• Superdent Coolmint
• Cooldent Coolmint
• Cooldent Spearmint
• Cooldent Fluoride
• Everfresh Assortment
• BrightMax
• DentaPro
• Dentakleen
• Dentakleen Junior Brand - Strawberry
• Dentakleen Junior Brand - Blueberry

Manufacturer: Gold Credit International Trading Co LTD Products:

• Bright Max Peppermint Flavor
• Clean Rite Toothpaste
• Clean Rite Toothpaste Kit
• Oralmax Extreme Action Kit
• Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor
• DentaKleen
• DentaKleen Junior
• DentaPro

Manufacturer: Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Co. Ltd.:

• ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste
• ShiRFresh Toothpaste
• ShiRFresh Mint
• ShiRFresh Ice Mint

Manufacturer: Shanghai Light Industrial Products:

• Freshh Spearmint

Manufacturer: Unknown:

• Crescent Toothpaste
• Naturabella nino Dusanzo
• Manufacturer: Suzhou Qing Xin Daily Chemical Co., Ltd.:
• Pacific Fluoride Toothpaste
• Pacific Fluoride Gel Toothpaste

Manufacturer: Guangdong Wellknown Ceramics Co., Ltd.:

• Tian Qi Toothpaste

ConsumerAffairs.com first discovered tubes of toothpaste being sold in the U.S. days before the FDA closed the nation's borders to Chinese toothpaste importers.

Our investigation uncovered 17 tubes of illegal toothpaste being sold at D.C.-area discount stores.

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