Toothpaste Containing Poison Is Found in U.S.

The New York Times ^ | June 2, 2007 | WALT BOGDANICH

[LurkedLongEnough]

Consumers were advised on Friday to discard all toothpaste made in China after federal health officials said they found Chinese-made toothpaste containing a poison related to a chemical used in antifreeze in three locations — Miami, the Port of Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. Although there are no reports of anyone being harmed by the toothpaste, the Food and Drug Administration warned that the Chinese products have a “low but meaningful risk of toxicity and injury” to children and people with kidney or liver disease.

The United States is the seventh country to find tainted Chinese toothpaste within its borders in recent weeks. F.D.A. officials said they found toothpaste containing a small amount of diethylene glycol, a sweet syrupy poison, at a Dollar Plus retail store in Miami, sold under the brand name ShiR Fresh Mint Flouride Paste. The F.D.A. also identified another nine brands of Chinese toothpaste that contain diethylene glycol, some with concentrations of between 3 percent and 4 percent.

[NonValueAdded]

I can’t believe that this is a deliberate policy of the Chinese government. What is their point in killing off international trade? A few more incidents like this one and “Made in China” items will be gathering dust on the shelves. I doubt we’ll ever hear of the penalties that get handed out over there but a charge of damaging the state economy surely carries the death penalty.

[kinoxi]

Which one?

[rxgalfl]

Officials said they found toothpaste containing a small amount of diethylene glycol, a sweet syrupy poison, at a Dollar Plus retail store in Miami,

I stepped into one of those stores once about 3 years ago and looked at their products and I was amazed. They had Colgate toothpaste, same as the one sold in supermarkets and grocery stores but it was manufactured in Middle East (sorry, cannot recall the country, I want to say Kuwait but not sure!) and labeled both in English and Arabic. Imagine my surprise considering that that was sold for $1 VS the $3 sold in regular stores and manufactured in US. So the logical question comes to mind: how cheap or safe that Colgate tube can be while being sold for a buck, imported from across the world AND making a profit as well...I still find it weird...

[1rudeboy]

I refer you to my comment #35. P&G is probably the largest consumer-product company in the world. The “ideologues” are the ones who’ve convinced themselves that we “make nuthin’, nowheres, nohow.” You spring immediately to mind.

[Southerngl]

There is no “NAFTA” deal with China. There isn’t anything even remotely resembling a NAFTA deal with China. Be serious.

***

Well, I guess you are right. I should have posted that in sarcastic tags.

[1rudeboy]

The one that thinks we have a NAFTA-style agreement with China.

[brownsfan]

*** Which isn’t even a trade deal.***

MFN: The principle, fundamental to the GATT, of treating imports from a country on the same basis as that given to the most favored other nation.

C’mon, just because your vaunted free trade is showing it’s evil side, no need to get nasty. Strictly speaking, it’s not a trade deal, but very much relates to trade, and balence thereof.

Getting a little picky as Rome burns?

[1rudeboy]

If that was sarcasm, it sucked.

[Flavius]

we dealt with imports before

[brownsfan]

*** The “ideologues” are the ones who’ve convinced themselves that we “make nuthin’, nowheres, nohow.” You spring immediately to mind.***

Well, with your limited capcity, I guess you should be grateful anything “springs to mind”.

[1rudeboy]

Isn't it funny that, in the melamine case for example, we are finding manufacturers all over (including the U.S.) that have been adding it to their products, and all you can bring yourself to do is demagogue the issue of trade? Shouldn't you concern yourself with ensuring stuff is safe, first? If not, why are you more afraid of trade than poison?

[Southerngl]

I’ll venture a guess and say the poster meant MFN status.
Which isn’t even a trade deal.

But we’ve long since passed the point where having a clue is a requirement for posting on important issues.
****

I do apologize, I did have the title agreement.

I’ll cease posting until I have my law books, masters degree and your oh so arrogant authoritive permission before venturing to actually make a post on a blog. God forbid I be incorrect and not ‘have a clue’.

The arrogance of some Freepers wanting to pretend pretentiously that they are in a high standing political debate is laughable. It’s a BLOG for crying out loud. Get over yourself.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

“C’mon, just because your vaunted free trade is showing it’s evil side, no need to get nasty. Strictly speaking, it’s not a trade deal, but very much relates to trade, and balence thereof.”

The funny thing is in a free market, which we have, if people decide that the benefit of cheap imports is outpaced by the the danger of being poisoned, no one will buy them and it will cease to be a problem.

Only Dems thing people are too dumb to act in their own self interest. AHem.

[1rudeboy]

The only thing springing in the vicinity of your mind on this thread are your knees.

[kinoxi]

I find the /s tag limits many misunderstandings. I’m not trying to be condescending, but you do know what the letters NAFTA stand for correct?

[org.whodat]

How much more does this have to happen before people wise up and stop buying any consumable made in China?

Already do that, but if we ever get a republican congress and president, maybe it would be written in bigger letters.

Oh, wait a minute, they are the ones that put off country of origin labeling.

[Southerngl]

If that was sarcasm, it sucked.

***

Living up to your name? Remind me to put you on my ‘ignore’ list. You can correct without being nasty. But whatever. Bet you got lots of friends. /sarcasm

(How’s that for sarcasm? Not so sucky anymore?)

[brownsfan]

“Only Dems thing people are too dumb to act in their own self interest. AHem.”

But should the consumer have to risk death to be educated what can and can’t hurt them?
Free trade means going back to the jungle and you try all the berries until you find the ones that kill someone?

[1rudeboy]

How do you come to idea that you should be immune from criticism, especially when you say something foolish (and compound your problem by trying to pass it off as sarcasm)?

[abigailsmybaby]

Ain’t that the truth. No choices any more.