Ind. Supplier Recalls Tainted Toothpaste

A leading supplier of toiletries for hotels and resorts said Monday it was recalling worldwide complimentary tubes of toothpaste made in China after tests showed some may contain a potentially toxic chemical.

It was the latest in a series of recalls of Chinese-made goods, toothpaste, children’s toys, tires and pet food, because of shoddy and perhaps dangerous manufacturing methods.

Gilchrist & Soames is recalling its 18-milliliter or 0.65-ounce tubes with the name Gilchrist & Soames on it. The company said Monday that some samples showed the tubes contained diethylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze and can be toxic to the kidneys and liver.

“They’re just kind of the little complimentary size you get in the hotels, and it’s branded Gilchrist & Soames,” said Cindy Duran, a spokeswoman for the company, which is based in Indianapolis.

The toothpaste was made China by Ming Fai Enterprises International Co. Ltd.

The Food and Drug Administration is not aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from the toothpaste, according to a statement from the company.

China has come under fire in recent months after potentially dangerous levels of chemicals and toxins were found in some of its exports. A long list of products, from seafood to toothpaste, have been recalled or rejected by a number of countries worried about safety.