# What is the taint? (In the toothpaste) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taint-in-the-toothpaste/406412 "2007-06-01T22:41:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taint-in-the-toothpaste/406412/1 "2007-06-01T22:41:18Z")
Most of us have been receiving the news about toothpastefrom China having been recalled because it was found to be tainted with ahazardous chemical used in making antifreeze. There are toxic chemicals that are routinely used in foods and medicines in the USA that are used in antifreeze. Propylene glycol for example. Exactly what is that chemical that was found in the toothpaste? In what concentration? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taint-in-the-toothpaste/406412/2 "2007-06-01T22:49:32Z")
[http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-05-15-panama-toothpaste\_N.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-05-15-panama-toothpaste_N.htm) Diethylene glycol, which is sometimes used as a substitute for glycerin, killed at least 51 and perhaps over 100 people in Panama last year in cough syrup, antihistamine tablets, calamine lotion and rash ointment. It is of course a major scandal here. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taint-in-the-toothpaste/406412/3 "2007-06-01T23:02:12Z")
[QUOTE=Ignatz] Most of us have been receiving the news about toothpastefrom China having been recalled because it was found to be tainted with ahazardous chemical used in making antifreeze. There are toxic chemicals that are routinely used in foods and medicines in the USA that are used in antifreeze. Propylene glycol for example. Exactly what is that chemical that was found in the toothpaste? In what concentration? [/QUOTE] Ethylene and diethylene glycol are toxic. Propylene glycol is “generally regarded as safe”, and used in many food and cosmetic products, as you observed. Newer “non-toxic” antifreeze formulations have used propylene glycol for just this reason. That’s “non toxic” when compared to the ethylene glycol formulations, BTW. You still don’t want to drink the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taint-in-the-toothpaste/406412/4 "2007-06-01T23:06:17Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-05-15-panama-toothpaste\_N.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-05-15-panama-toothpaste_N.htm) Diethylene glycol, which is sometimes used as a substitute for glycerin, killed at least 51 and perhaps over 100 people in Panama last year in cough syrup, antihistamine tablets, calamine lotion and rash ointment. It is of course a major scandal here. [/QUOTE] Thanks, **Colibri.** As I was reading your link I heard the latest news report on CNN Radio News which included the name of the DEG for the first time (that I’ve heard).. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taint-in-the-toothpaste/406412/5 "2007-06-01T23:16:22Z")
Forget a taint in the toothpaste, howzabout some toothpaste on (or near) the [taint!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=860395&postcount=47) Whee doggies! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taint-in-the-toothpaste/406412/6 "2007-06-01T23:26:24Z")
> [@](#): > > China has sentenced the former head of the State Food and Drug Administration to death after he was convicted of corruption, state media has reported. Zheng Xiaoyu was convicted on charges of taking bribes and of dereliction of duty, Xinhua news agency reported. > > The sentence is unusually harsh for a senior figure, but Zheng could have his sentence reduced to life on appeal. The verdict came as the government announced plans for the first ever recall system of unsafe food products. > > **Beijing has been under pressure to act over increasing concern both at home and abroad about the poor standards of Chinese-produced food and medicines.** Source: [BBC- 29 May 2007](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6699441.stm)