06-02-2007, 12:17 PM
Contaminated Shipment Contains DEG Used in Antifreeze
By Aly Adair
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an import alert today warning all consumers to check their toothpaste tubes for labeling that indicates it was made in China.
Consumers should throw away any toothpaste that says it was made in China because there are concerns the products may contain diethylene glycol (DEG), also known as diglycol, or diglycol stearate.
DEG is a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze and used as a solvent. The FDA already detained one contaminated shipment and found products on retail shelves that were contaminated with DEG.
Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a glycol compound with toxicity similar to ethylene glycol. It is a central nervous system depressant and potent kidney and liver toxin when ingested. It is commonly used in industry as a solvent, a thickening agent, a humectant, and as a component in antifreeze and gas conditioning formulations. DEG has been improperly used as a low-cost substitute for glycerin and propylene glycol in pharmaceutical preparations resulting in various lethal poisoning incidents in humans worldwide. Most recently, a cough syrup resulted in serious human injury and over 40 deaths in Panama in September 2006. These recent DEG poisoning incidents involved a "glycerin" product manufactured in China that was a mixture of sorbitol and DEG and less than one percent glycerin.
The FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG:
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
The companies that manufacture these products are:
Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited
Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited
Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited
The FDA began testing toothpaste in the United States after receiving reports of contaminated toothpaste in other countries. The agency tested toothpaste and other dental products manufactured in China that were at distribution centers and already on retail shelves in the U.S. The FDA is not aware of any U.S. poisonings from the toothpaste containing DEG, however inspectors did find and detain one shipment of toothpaste at the U.S. border. A toothpaste product on the retail shelf was not labeled as containing DEG, but was found to be contaminated when the product was tested.
Children and individuals with kidney or liver disease are at higher risks for DEG poisoning. The FDA says that DEG has a meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to children who may accidentally swallow the toothpaste. The FDA is also concerned about potential harm from chronic exposure to DEG through daily use of contaminated toothpaste. The FDA emphasizes that DEG poisoning is an important public safety issue. Other products that may be contained for examination under the import alert include dentifrice products without Flouride, dentifrice products with Stannous Flouride, Dentifrice products with Sodium Monofluorophosphate, and dentifrice products with Sodium Fluoride made in China.
There have been reports of deaths in other countries over the past several years when those people ingested DEG-contaminated pharmaceutical preparations like cough syrups and acetaminophen syrup. The FDA officials have recently warned pharmaceutical companies in the United States to check that glycerin, a sweetener used in popular over-the-counter drugs and liquids, is not contaminated with DEG. The FDA is continuing to investigate the toothpaste problem and will add brands to the import alert if they find DEG contamination.
If you have an adverse reaction to a toothpaste or any other dental hygiene product that was made in China, remember to save all the packaging and report the experience to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or call (800) 332-1088.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...a_may.html
By Aly Adair
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an import alert today warning all consumers to check their toothpaste tubes for labeling that indicates it was made in China.
Consumers should throw away any toothpaste that says it was made in China because there are concerns the products may contain diethylene glycol (DEG), also known as diglycol, or diglycol stearate.
DEG is a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze and used as a solvent. The FDA already detained one contaminated shipment and found products on retail shelves that were contaminated with DEG.
Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a glycol compound with toxicity similar to ethylene glycol. It is a central nervous system depressant and potent kidney and liver toxin when ingested. It is commonly used in industry as a solvent, a thickening agent, a humectant, and as a component in antifreeze and gas conditioning formulations. DEG has been improperly used as a low-cost substitute for glycerin and propylene glycol in pharmaceutical preparations resulting in various lethal poisoning incidents in humans worldwide. Most recently, a cough syrup resulted in serious human injury and over 40 deaths in Panama in September 2006. These recent DEG poisoning incidents involved a "glycerin" product manufactured in China that was a mixture of sorbitol and DEG and less than one percent glycerin.
The FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG:
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
The companies that manufacture these products are:
Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited
Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited
Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited
The FDA began testing toothpaste in the United States after receiving reports of contaminated toothpaste in other countries. The agency tested toothpaste and other dental products manufactured in China that were at distribution centers and already on retail shelves in the U.S. The FDA is not aware of any U.S. poisonings from the toothpaste containing DEG, however inspectors did find and detain one shipment of toothpaste at the U.S. border. A toothpaste product on the retail shelf was not labeled as containing DEG, but was found to be contaminated when the product was tested.
Children and individuals with kidney or liver disease are at higher risks for DEG poisoning. The FDA says that DEG has a meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to children who may accidentally swallow the toothpaste. The FDA is also concerned about potential harm from chronic exposure to DEG through daily use of contaminated toothpaste. The FDA emphasizes that DEG poisoning is an important public safety issue. Other products that may be contained for examination under the import alert include dentifrice products without Flouride, dentifrice products with Stannous Flouride, Dentifrice products with Sodium Monofluorophosphate, and dentifrice products with Sodium Fluoride made in China.
There have been reports of deaths in other countries over the past several years when those people ingested DEG-contaminated pharmaceutical preparations like cough syrups and acetaminophen syrup. The FDA officials have recently warned pharmaceutical companies in the United States to check that glycerin, a sweetener used in popular over-the-counter drugs and liquids, is not contaminated with DEG. The FDA is continuing to investigate the toothpaste problem and will add brands to the import alert if they find DEG contamination.
If you have an adverse reaction to a toothpaste or any other dental hygiene product that was made in China, remember to save all the packaging and report the experience to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or call (800) 332-1088.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...a_may.html