China rejects Toothpaste Warning, contents not harmful
MIL/Agencies, Jun 4, 2007.
Beijing : June 04, 2007 – China has categorically rejected today the allegation level by American Consumers that the Chinese toothpaste is harmful. The F.D.A. also confirmed that the toothpaste had contained diethylene glycol between 3 to 4 percent and that is not harmful.
Even earlier China had issued a statement on a government Web site over the weekend saying that a Food and Drug Administration warning to American consumers to avoid potentially harmful Chinese toothpaste was “unscientific, irresponsible and contradictory.”
The American warning was issued because of reports that the products might contain diethylene glycol, a thickening agent used in antifreeze.
In a statement released late Saturday, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said that low levels of the chemical had been deemed safe for consumption and that the ingredients list was made available to the F.D.A.
The Chinese agency said European Union standards allowed for a certain amount of the chemical and cited a 2000 Chinese study that found toothpaste containing less than 15.6 percent diethylene glycol was not harmful.
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