On August 7, 2007, Donnamax Inc. announced a recall of two brands of toothpaste made in China that may be contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG). No injuries or illnesses have yet been reported, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is concerned about health risks associated with the recalled toothpastes and children.

DEG in toothpaste poses a small but significant risk of toxicity to children and consumers with kidney or liver disease. Unintentional swallowing or ingestion of the recalled toothpaste could be harmful to those populations.

Two brands of toothpaste are involved in the recall:

• DentaPro brand cavity fighting fluoride toothpaste, fresh spearmint flavor – Item number 9112, UPC 8 71290 – 00062 5
• Bright Max Toothpaste – Item number 9111

Consumers who have purchased the recalled toothpaste brands should stop using them and either return them to the place of purchase or throw them away. If customers have adverse reactions or quality problems associated with the use of this recalled product, they should report it to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Press Release, August 7, 2007.