http://www.thestar.com/News/article/249782



Harmful bacteria found after earlier discovery of poisonous ingredient

Aug 25, 2007 04:30 AM
Iain Marlow
Staff Reporter


A popular brand of toothpaste imported from India contains dangerously high levels of harmful bacteria, Health Canada says.

Yesterday's warning comes a month after the agency revealed Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium also contains a poison used in antifreeze.

Tejinder Narula, owner of Bombay Grocers in Mississauga, stopped selling the toothpaste last week after a customer mentioned the earlier warning.

"I use it myself. For 10 years," Narula said.

Yesterday, several Indian grocers in Toronto said they too heard of the earlier Health Canada warning only from customers.

Health Canada scientists discovered the bacteria during tests conducted after they found the syrupy poison diethylene glycol in the toothpaste made by Calcutta Chemical Co.

The bacteria pose "additional significant health risks, especially to children and individuals with compromised immune systems."

A woman at the Indian Bazaar in Etobicoke initially said they sell Neem toothpaste but, after being told of the warning, added "Now it's, uh, not for sale."

Accidentally swallowing the toothpaste could result in "fever, urinary tract infection, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain," Health Canada said.

Throughout the summer, there have been numerous warnings about counterfeit or poisonous toothpaste, many of them imported from China.

Yikes, my mum used to use this toothpaste at one time. Not any more!