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Gilchrist & Soames Recalls Toothpaste

Small tubes were given away to guests at hotels worldwide

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 13, 2007

Indianapolis-based Gilchrist & Soames, which supplies toiletry products for the hotel industry worldwide, today recalled its 0.65 ounce tubes of toothpaste manufactured in China by Ming Fai Enterprises International Co., LTD.

The action comes after independent tests showed some samples of the toothpaste contained DEG, which is found in antifreeze and can be toxic to the kidneys and liver.

It’s also the latest in a series of recent recalls involving Chinese-made products, including other brands of toothpastes that contained DEG, toys made with lead paint, shoddy tires, and melamine-tainted ingredients used to make pet food.

Gilchrist & Soames said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was not aware of any reports of poisonings in the United States from the tainted toothpaste.

The company said it's notifying guests around the world who received the complimentary toothpaste -- including those in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom -- to immediately throw away the product. It also ordered its hotels around the globe to destroy any remaining tubes of the toothpaste.

The company said it started testing the products for possible DEG contamination after receiving an FDA alert on June 1 about contaminated toothpastes made in China.

“The fifth round of our independent lab tests showed the presence of DEG in some samples at levels exceeding FDA guidelines from one of our China suppliers,” Kathie De Voe, president of Gilchrist & Soames, said in a written statement.

“We immediately began the process of initiating a voluntary recall of our complimentary-sized (.65oz/18ml) Gilchrist & Soames toothpaste. We want to ensure that any contaminated toothpaste is safely disposed of and/or destroyed.”

De Voe said Gilchrist & Soames also stopped all outgoing shipments and quarantined all of its “Made in China” toothpaste after it received the FDA alert.

The company said it’s working with the FDA and authorities in Europe on the recall.

Hotel guests with questions about this action can contact the company at 1-866-587-6542.

Information about other Chinese-made toothpastes involved in recent recalls can be found on the FDA’s Web site.

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