Check your toothpaste

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   I just got this e-mail from my mom, a fellow prepper.  It is from a website called "Urban Legends Reference" that follows up and tests to see if rumors or urban legends are true.  Since we are all looking for bargains for food and other supplies, I thought I would post this article in the discussion area so more people would be aware of a potential health hazard in relation to toothpaste sold at dollar stores and other similar stores.  There is a nice picture in the link to show you what to look for on the toothpaste container, but I could not get the picture to work on the forum posting.  

Dollar Store Toothpaste

Claim:   Some dollar stores sell expired and foreign, non-ADA-approved formulations of toothpaste. 

Status:   True. 

Example:   [Collected via e-mail, 2004] 

Subject: Dollar Store Toothpaste(s) 

I don't know if any of you watched Channel 5 News last night, but they did an investigation on dollar stores (including Dollar Tree, Greenbacks & 99 Cents). They discovered the Crest, Colgate and other brand name toothpastes weren't the same as from Wal-mart, grocery stores etc. The toothpastes were manufactured in many other countries and are not approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). There was even some from South Africa and the fluoride is ten times stronger than what we're allowed in the U.S. (prescription strength). They're allowed stronger because they don't have fluoridated water (like we do). So if we (or our kids) use it often and occasionally swallow it, we could be poisoning ourselves. The dollar stores declined to comment and a full investigation has begun. So stick to paying full-price at the grocery store and send this e-mail to anyone who shops at dollar stores. 

Origins:   The  last several years have seen the strong growth of dollar stores, outlets in which shoppers can find a wide variety of household items � everything from canned goods to motor oil � in one convenient location, with everything priced at $1.00 or $0.99 per unit. (No more sales clerks holding up check-out lines waiting for price checks!) Sometimes the merchandise found in dollar stores is just the same as what one might purchase elsewhere for a considerably higher price, but dollar stores sell it more cheaply because they've obtained supplies from manufacturers and wholesalers who are disposing of overstock or older merchandise for a fraction of the usual price. Often the items sold in dollar stores are inexpensive because they're produced and marketed by smaller brands, made from lesser-quality materials, of foreign manufacture, or were just cheaper merchandise to begin with. 

One of the items more commonly purchased through dollar stores by budget-conscious shoppers is toothpaste. Everyone uses toothpaste � why pay $2 or $3 per tube in a grocery or drug store when you can stock up on it for $1 per tube somewhere else? In our household we've often purchased name-brand toothpaste in dollar stores, although we've noticed that our local dollar stores also stock name-brand toothpaste manufactured for foreign markets (usually Canada or Mexico) and off-brand toothpaste sold in "knock-off" packaging that mimics the packaging of more well-known brands. 

As television station in KXAS, a Dallas-based NBC affiliate, discovered in a report broadcast in May 2004 (and summarized in the message quoted above), consumers might want to be cautious when buying dollar-store toothpaste. One major concern is that one can often find toothpaste intended for foreign markets for sale in dollar stores, product that may not meet the same governmental regulations required of American manufacturers or that may have been made by foreign companies with lower quality-control standards than American firms. 

Of course, where the toothpaste comes from can make a big difference. We have no issue with purchasing Canadian toothpaste for our household from our nearby dollar store, because it's manufactured by a major American corporation (Procter & Gamble), and it's approved by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA), whose standards are similar to the American Dental Association's (ADA): 

But, as KXAS reporters found, consumers may have good reason to be concerned about discount stores that carry toothpaste from other parts of the world: 

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." 
(We note that even brands of fluoride toothpaste manufactured in the U.S. to American Dental Association standards generally carry warning notices on their labels advising consumers not to swallow it, so parents should be cautious about their children swallowing any fluoride toothpaste, regardless of its country of origin.) 

Another potential issue of concern with cheap toothpaste can be the age of the product: 

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. 
In general, expired toothpaste doesn't pose a significant health risk (most brands don't even carry expiration dates on their packaging), but older toothpaste may be undesirable because it may be less effective or less pleasant to use due to changes in taste and consistency. 

As always, the operative concept is caveat emptor � something that looks like a bargain may really be less than it appears, so shop wisely. 

Last updated:   23 March 2006

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/toothpaste.asp

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Check your toothpaste Posted: March 27 2006 at 8:38am
	I just got this e-mail from my mom, a fellow prepper. It is from a website called "Urban Legends Reference" that follows up and tests to see if rumors or urban legends are true. Since we are all looking for bargains for food and other supplies, I thought I would post this article in the discussion area so more people would be aware of a potential health hazard in relation to toothpaste sold at dollar stores and other similar stores. There is a nice picture in the link to show you what to look for on the toothpaste container, but I could not get the picture to work on the forum posting. Dollar Store Toothpaste Claim: Some dollar stores sell expired and foreign, non-ADA-approved formulations of toothpaste. Status: *True.* Example: [Collected via e-mail, 2004] Subject: Dollar Store Toothpaste(s) I don't know if any of you watched Channel 5 News last night, but they did an investigation on dollar stores (including Dollar Tree, Greenbacks & 99 Cents). They discovered the Crest, Colgate and other brand name toothpastes weren't the same as from Wal-mart, grocery stores etc. The toothpastes were manufactured in many other countries and are not approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). There was even some from South Africa and the fluoride is ten times stronger than what we're allowed in the U.S. (prescription strength). They're allowed stronger because they don't have fluoridated water (like we do). So if we (or our kids) use it often and occasionally swallow it, we could be poisoning ourselves. The dollar stores declined to comment and a full investigation has begun. So stick to paying full-price at the grocery store and send this e-mail to anyone who shops at dollar stores. Origins: The last several years have seen the strong growth of dollar stores, outlets in which shoppers can find a wide variety of household items � everything from canned goods to motor oil � in one convenient location, with everything priced at $1.00 or $0.99 per unit. (No more sales clerks holding up check-out lines waiting for price checks!) Sometimes the merchandise found in dollar stores is just the same as what one might purchase elsewhere for a considerably higher price, but dollar stores sell it more cheaply because they've obtained supplies from manufacturers and wholesalers who are disposing of overstock or older merchandise for a fraction of the usual price. Often the items sold in dollar stores are inexpensive because they're produced and marketed by smaller brands, made from lesser-quality materials, of foreign manufacture, or were just cheaper merchandise to begin with. One of the items more commonly purchased through dollar stores by budget-conscious shoppers is toothpaste. Everyone uses toothpaste � why pay $2 or $3 per tube in a grocery or drug store when you can stock up on it for $1 per tube somewhere else? In our household we've often purchased name-brand toothpaste in dollar stores, although we've noticed that our local dollar stores also stock name-brand toothpaste manufactured for foreign markets (usually Canada or Mexico) and off-brand toothpaste sold in "knock-off" packaging that mimics the packaging of more well-known brands. As television station in KXAS, a Dallas-based NBC affiliate, discovered in a report broadcast in May 2004 (and summarized in the message quoted above), consumers might want to be cautious when buying dollar-store toothpaste. One major concern is that one can often find toothpaste intended for foreign markets for sale in dollar stores, product that may not meet the same governmental regulations required of American manufacturers or that may have been made by foreign companies with lower quality-control standards than American firms. Of course, where the toothpaste comes from can make a big difference. We have no issue with purchasing Canadian toothpaste for our household from our nearby dollar store, because it's manufactured by a major American corporation (Procter & Gamble), and it's approved by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA), whose standards are similar to the American Dental Association's (ADA): But, as KXAS reporters found, consumers may have good reason to be concerned about discount stores that carry toothpaste from other parts of the world: 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." (We note that even brands of fluoride toothpaste manufactured in the U.S. to American Dental Association standards generally carry warning notices on their labels advising consumers not to swallow it, so parents should be cautious about their children swallowing any fluoride toothpaste, regardless of its country of origin.) Another potential issue of concern with cheap toothpaste can be the age of the product: 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. In general, expired toothpaste doesn't pose a significant health risk (most brands don't even carry expiration dates on their packaging), but older toothpaste may be undesirable because it may be less effective or less pleasant to use due to changes in taste and consistency. As always, the operative concept is caveat emptor � something that looks like a bargain may really be less than it appears, so shop wisely. Last updated: 23 March 2006 http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/toothpaste.asp

Siameselade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: March 22 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 414	Post Options Post Reply Quote Siameselade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 27 2006 at 8:51am
	Gross, thanks for the posting, good warning. We will have to watch all our items for expiry times.
	Siam

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 27 2006 at 9:38am
	Thank You for the post...I bought all my tooth paste from the No Frills store(grocery) or the zellers here I will go check out the dates..if they have one... Most of my dollar store items are crayons and sharepeners..the ones that work the best...my kids quality tested in thier back to school stuff...some of the dollar store stuff they did not like, so I had to replace...some of the things were pretty good..like the little steel pencil sharepeners...we tested 2 different types of pencils and one you would sharpen and it would break ...the other one was fairly good(so i stocked up on those)...and I always say to my kids what do you expect for a buck....

outsidethecamp Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: February 16 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 361	Post Options Post Reply Quote outsidethecamp Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 27 2006 at 10:09am
	Oh great. Last month, I purchased about 15 tubes of this stuff from the local "Dollar Tree". Just gonna have to make sure that we don't swallow it, I guess.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 27 2006 at 10:25am
	In the service I was a dental assistance and a dental hygienist. I do not endorse fluoride; however, this will not hurt you unless you consume it. Ok, well most think that anyway. Some say that it is a good thing to have on hand if cavities form easy in your family to ward off the dentist for a small amount of time. There is much dispute about it all, that I am not sure what to believe. However, I have some of the dollar store toothpaste on hand, just in case.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 27 2006 at 10:42am
	If we are all drinking bottled water that does not contain flouride, then isnt it ok to use that toothpaste?

Siameselade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: March 22 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 414	Post Options Post Reply Quote Siameselade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 27 2006 at 10:48am
	Goodness, we had to give fluoride drops to our babies for years as our water didn't contain fluoride. Now it's in the water.
	Siam