Product Warnings

October 2007

• CPSC Staff Study: Home Lead Test Kits Unreliable

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced on October 22, 2007, the results of a special evaluation of consumer lead test kits. CPSC staff used commonly available test kits on a variety of paints and other products containing different levels of lead. Many of the tests using the kits did not detect lead when it was there (false negatives); some indicated lead was present when it was not (false positives). Of 104 total test results, more than half (56) were false negatives, and two were false positives. None of the kits consistently detected lead in products if the lead was covered with a non-leaded coating. Based on the study the CPSC recommends that consumers should not use lead test kits to evaluate consumer products for potential lead hazard. Testing by a qualified laboratory and trained personnel is the only way to accurately assess the potential risk posed by a consumer product that may contain lead.

June 2007

• Toothpaste Made in China

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled as made in China.

The agency has also issued an importation alert to prevent toothpaste containing the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG) from entering the United States. DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent and consumers should throw away toothpaste with that labeling, the FDA is urging.

The FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG:
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; ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste; DentaPro; DentaKleen; and DentaKleen Junior.

Manufacturers of these products are: Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited; Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited; and Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited.

The products typically are sold at low-cost, “bargain” retail outlets.

Consumers can report adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with these products to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm or (800) 332-1088.