Four U.S. executives charged over tainted toothpaste

[marmar]

from the Int'l Herald-Tribune:




Four U.S. executives charged over tainted toothpaste
By Louise Story and Geraldine Fabrikant Published: March 7, 2008


Criminal charges have been filed against four executives at two American companies who imported toothpaste from China that contained a poison used in some antifreeze, the city attorney in Los Angeles said in a statement.

The chemical, diethylene glycol, which is banned from certain ingestible items in the United States, was discovered in almost a million tubes of toothpaste in May and led to recalls in 34 countries.

The chemical, commonly used in antifreeze and as a solvent, can lead to kidney damage or liver disease.

The toothpaste ended up being distributed in the United States in prisons, luxury hotels, hospitals and discount stores. It was one of the earliest global alerts to broader manufacturing problems in China that allowed scores of tainted products, including toys, children's jewelry and pet food to end up on store shelves. The chemical in the toothpaste was used instead of the more expensive chemical glycerin.

The Los Angeles city attorney, Rocky Delgadillo, working with the Food and Drug Administration, on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against two Los Angeles-based importers, Vernon Sales and Selective Imports.

At Selective, Frahad Nazarian, the president, and Yones Ghermezi, the vice president, were charged with two counts of receiving, selling and delivering the tainted products. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/07/business/07toothpaste.php

[elizfeelinggreat]

1. more

"In May, after federal health officials discovered that tainted Chinese toothpaste had entered the United States, they warned that it would be found largely in discount stores. As it turned out, nearly one million tubes have turned up in hospitals, prisons and elsewhere.

<> ...
Selective Imports sold about 78,000 tubes of the toothpaste from December 2005 to May 2007, according to the case.

There have been no deaths reported from the use of the toothpaste made in China. But Panamanian investigators have concluded that 174 people were poisoned - and at least 115 died - after using cold medicine imported from China that contained the same chemical - diethylene glycol."


Why do you suppose they don't give out the brand/s it was sold under, which institutions it was distributed at, wouldn't that make it easier for people to be aware if they're at risk?