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NOTE: The problem with fluoride violations of imported toothpastes has been a long-ongoing problem. SEE: NBC 5 Investigation Prompts National Health Alert NBC5 - June 11, 2004 DALLAS -- Health officials have posted a nationwide alert in response to an NBC 5 investigation that found imported toothpaste at North Texas dollar discount stores. NBC 5 reporter Ken Kalthoff first broke this story in May, when he found several tubes of foreign toothpaste at eight different dollar discount stores around North Texas. Initial Report: “Some Dollar-Store Bargains Could Prove Costly” Shopping undercover, our NBC 5 crew found that most of the packages look a lot like regular American brands. In fact, customers at the stores told us they would never have noticed the tiny print that indicated the products were really made in places like South Africa. Some of the toothpaste had extremely high levels of fluoride -- as much as 10 times the American dosage. An expert at the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas said some would be prescription-strength fluoride in the United States. Since our report, poison control centers have learned about our discovery and have posted a nationwide alert with information for people who swallow the foreign toothpaste because too much fluoride can reportedly be dangerous, especially for children. "When you ingest fluoride, it can cause some stomach irritation, some nausea, some vomiting, some abdominal pain. And the higher concentration, it would take a lesser amount to cause a problem for a child," North Texas Poison Control representative James Garrison said. The manufacturers claim their products are safe, but not meant for sale in the United States, and that they do not import the products to the United States and even try to stop those who do. Store owners reportedly buy the products from wholesalers. An FDA official said the agency relies on local inspectors to enforce import regulations. Dallas employs 12 inspectors to handle grocery stores and restaurants that sell perishable items. Ahsan Khan, of the city of Dallas, said the inspectors do not inspect dollar stores. SOURCE: Some Dollar-Store Bargains Could Prove Costly NBC5 - May 11, 2004 DALLAS -- For families on strict budgets, dollar discount stores offer low-cost items that can help make ends meet. Some personal hygiene items in the stores, however, might have ended up on the shelves without approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. An NBC 5 investigation revealed tubes of toothpaste manufactured in or imported from foreign countries. According to the investigation, the tubes appear to be U.S. products, but closer inspection revealed products from around the world, some without labeling required by U.S. law. NBC 5 investigators identified toothpaste tubes from South Africa, Kenya and Canada. The team visited more than 12 dollar discount stores and found foreign tubes in eight locations, including Dollar Tree stores in Bedford and Fort Worth, Greenbacks in Dallas and 99 Cent Plus in Arlington, according to NBC 5. Dr. Charles Wakefield, a professor at the Baylor College of Dentistry, said fluoride levels in the foreign versions of toothpaste represent the biggest hazard. The fluoride in the South African version was 10 times that commonly sold in the United States. "You just don't want kids to swallow it," Wakefield said. "I really don't know how these are legally in stores." Some tubes purchased by the NBC 5 team were approved by African dental groups. Wakefield said the tubes should carry an American Dental Association seal. "See, this has the ADA seal on the outside of the box, and that's what you want to see," he said. Fluoride levels aren't the only concern. The investigators purchased four tubes of Canadian Aquafresh that expired two years ago. The store owner declined to be interviewed. He did say, however, he buys the products from wholesalers, who failed to inform him of the expiration dates. Owners of the other stores failed to return phone calls seeking comments. A Colgate representative said the company's foreign products are safe for consumption in the United States. Representatives from manufacturers of other products purchased during the investigation said their companies do not import into the United States products intended for sale in other countries. An FDA official said the agency relies on local inspectors to enforce import regulations. Dallas employs 12 inspectors to handle grocery stores and restaurants that sell perishable items. Ahsan Khan, of the city of Dallas, said the inspectors do not inspect dollar stores. SOURCE:
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