On May 24, 2007, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesman Doug Arbesfeld announced the agency is blocking all imports of toothpaste from China. The announcement comes after the discovery of a potentially toxic chemical, diethylene glycol, in Chinese toothpaste exports.

While no evidence exists that tainted Chinese toothpaste has entered the United States, the FDA is sampling shipments as a precaution. Imported toothpaste in Panama, the Dominican Republic and Australia was found to be tainted with the chemical.

Diethylene glycol is sometimes used as a thickening agent and as a low-cost substitute for glycerin. It is also a potentially fatal poison found in antifreeze. Colgate-Palmolive and Procter & Gamble have said their products are not imported from China, and experts on consumer-products makers said most major brands of toothpaste sold in the United States are manufactured domestically.

At least one manufacturing advisor consulted by the major toothpaste companies believes the import blockage may affect “knock-off” or bootleg versions of U.S. brands of toothpaste. The Dominican Republic has removed 10,000 tubes of toothpaste imported form China under the brands “Excel” and “Mr. Cool.” Panama has also removed these brands.

The FDA action comes after concerns that imported pet-food products from China were tainted with melamine, a chemical blamed for pet deaths that led to the recall of the products.

Source: Jane Zhang and Ellen Byron, “FDA blocks imports of Chinese toothpaste,” Wall Street Journal, May 24, 2007.