Is your toothpaste killing you? Published June 7, 2007 By the 319th Medical Support Squadron GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled "Made in China." Out of an abundance of caution, FDA suggests that consumers throw away toothpaste with labeling that says the product is made in China, typically sold at "bargain" retail outlets. The FDA is aware of deaths from swallowing cough syrups and acetaminophen syrup contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG). Recently a toothpaste made in China, not labeled as containing DEG, was found to contain 3 percent of the toxin by weight. Chronic exposure to DEG and exposure in children and individuals with kidney or liver disease has a proven risk of toxicity. The FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain diethylene glycol(DEG), "diglycol" or "diglycol stearate" and are included in the import alert: 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; and ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste. Manufacturers of these products are: Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited; Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited; and Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited. Adapted from: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01646.html.