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China Toothpaste Scare
Health officials in the United States say they are checking all shipments of toothpaste imported from China for contamination with toxic chemicals.
Doug Arbesfeld, a spokesman for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced: "We are going to be sampling and testing all shipments of toothpaste that come from China".
The FDA says China is the second-largest exporter of toothpaste to the US after Canada.
The toothpaste scare is the latest involving products from the People's Republic.
Earlier this year, contaminated pet food killed a number of cats and dogs in North America.
Cough syrup containing diethylene glycol originating in China, killed more than 50 people in Panama last year.
Beijing recently pledged to clean up its tainted food and drug industry. The subject was raised by the US in bilateral trade talks this week.
The former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration is facing trial, accused of taking large bribes to approve untested medicines.
There is no need to be afraid. But enter your bathroom at peril if you see that your dentifrice is made in Guiangzhou.
