The government is stopping all imports of Chinese toothpaste to test for a deadly chemical reportedly found in tubes sold elsewhere in the world.
The Food and Drug Administration is testing the Chinese toothpaste for diethylene glycol, a chemical commonly used in antifreeze and brake fluid, spokesman Doug Arbesfeld said Thursday. The imports will be released only if they test negative for the chemical.
The FDA began the tests following reports that tainted Chinese toothpaste was sold in Australia, the Dominican Republic and Panama, Arbesfeld said.
“There is absolutely no evidence of this toothpaste in the U.S. but it is what we believe a prudent and cautionary measure to protect the health of the American public,” Arbesfeld said.
China is the No. 6 exporter of toothpaste to the U.S. by dollar value, according to Commerce Department statistics. It accounted for just $3.3 million, or 3.5 percent, of the overall $96 million in toothpaste imported by the U.S. last year.
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Clothing seems to come from all over, but never really thought about toothpaste before.
Where’s that magnifying glass? Have to see where this toothpaste came from.
