Consumers Advised to Discard Toothpaste from China

Christina Cole

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled "Made in China" while also issuing an import alert to prevent toothpaste that may contain a poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG) from entering the United States.

DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent.

Consumers should examine their toothpaste products for labeling that displays "Made in China" and discard it immediately. The FDA is concerned that these products may contain "diethylene glycol," also known as "diglycol" or "diglycol stearate."

To date, the FDA is not aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from toothpaste that contains DEG. However, the agency is worried about potential risks of chronic DEG exposure in certain populations - such as children and persons with liver and kidney disease. DEG in toothpaste has relatively low risk of toxicity and injury.

FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG and are included in the import alert: Cooldent Fluoride; Cooldent Spearmint; Cooldent ICE; Dr. Cool, Everfresh Toothpaste; Superdent Toothpaste; Clean Rite Toothpaste; Oralmax Extreme; Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor; Bright Max Peppermint Flavor; ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste; DentaPro; DentaKleen; and DentaKleen Junior.

Manufacturers of these products are: Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited; Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited; and Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited. The products typically are sold at low-cost, "bargain" retail outlets.