Consumer Watch

Pearl_girl

ConsumerAffairs.Com

May 25, 2007
Toothpaste

• 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.
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Complaints
• Crest

The toothpaste scare that has the U.S. Food and Drug Administration scrambling to check all toothpaste imports has spread to Canada.

Chinese toothpastes labeled “Mr. Cool” and “Excel” contain diethylene glycol, a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze. The discovery alarmed Panama officials because that same ingredient killed 51 Panamanians a year ago after it was found in Chinese-imported cough syrup.

In response to Chinese shipments of poisonous toothpaste found in Central America, the Caribbean and Australia, the U.S. has decided to check all toothpaste shipments from China.

Canadian officials are considering taking similar actions.

Although neither of those products have been licensed in Canada, officials warned that they may still be on the market.

“It is possible that these products could be purchased by Canadians traveling abroad, or have been brought into Canada through personal importation, or purchased over the Internet,” said Renee Bergeron, Health Canada spokeswoman.

“Health Canada is monitoring this issue and will take the appropriate compliance and enforcement action if the product is found to be on the Canadian market".

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