Toorhpaste in China?
 

Would you use the toothpaste in the hotels in China? I was given toothpaste/brush on an Air China flight too.

Actually I'm confused on this subject, could some countries be making toothpaste with ingredients from China and how can you tell?

I always use my own. Not because of danger, but I hate their taste. And to me, a toothbrush is a very personal item. Also use my own.

[It's kind of interesting that one may be staying at the crappiest dumpy hotel in China with bugs and everything, but they'll have toothbrush/paste and slippers. These are things that Americans carry when traveling, but not Chinese.]

Anyways, back to the toothpaste issue. You're talking about the diethylene glycol. It's not a matter of where the ingredients come from. DEG can kill you wherever they're made. It's that it shouldn't be in toothpaste, period.

Hi Shanghainese,

Unfortunately it's not just the toothpaste supplied IN China, but 'pirated' big brands such as Colgate that contain the deadly diethylene glycol - I read about a warning in Canada last week, where the pirated Colgate was further disguised by being "Made in South Africa". Must admit I checked my stock in the bathroom, and was rather suprised it was "Made in Thailand" - am doing a bit more checking on this.

Yesterday, the contaminated Chinese toothpaste was found in several stores in Boston, more details in the Boston Globe's article at http://www.boston.com/news/globe/cit...inated_to.html

Jackie

Thanks, rkkwan and Jackie!

I can't add to the larger issue of this thread, but I found it very interesting that the topic was covered by CCTV International Channel (the only English-language CCTV channel, and a prime place for propaganda as would be expected).

They were quick to say that the government is putting in rules to address the situation. Then they had a piece on how DEG is not in that many brands of toothpaste and that anyway, the toxin really isn't that bad for you. They ended the coverage by interviewing a Frenchman on the street, who claimed he will always use the local toothpaste: he's been living in China for 4 years and has never had a problem, lack of memory or anything (I guess addressing possible symptoms of toxin poisoning?).

It was definitely a bizarre reporting piece, at least from my Western perspective! ;)

I love CCTV, but only as a humorous diversion rather than as a primary news source.

I lived in China for 6 years, using Chinese toothpaste for at least 4 of them. In all that time, I can't recall having any symptoms related to memory loss :p

Actually, the CCTV news can be useful. If it mentions something, then it must be <b>really</b> bad. Just to have a toothpaste story means hundreds if not thousands have been made sick.

You just have to &quot;interpret&quot; the story correctly.

Yes, I agree with you both, baaj and rkkwan - CCTV is both a humorous diversion and an interesting read into the &quot;mind&quot; of the government.

The week I arrived was the 10-year anniversary of the HK handover, and my sensitive lefty sensibilities couldn't handle all the talk of the &quot;return to the motherland&quot; - so I watched the ceremonies on a Chinese language channel instead, so that I wouldn't have to know what they were saying! (My hotel only provides CCTV, no cable channels.)

Now that I've become a bit more adjusted, I enjoy watching the channel to hear that perspective.

Last night there was a round table discussion on the DPRK (aka North Korea). Unfortunately I was too sleepy to listen closely!

A new idea for good gifts for Chinese, genuine American toothpaste! :-) I told one Chinese friend I am bringing toothpaste. He said to not do that, thinking perhaps it was a put-down of China. I said, &quot;No, I think too much of your family for you to use toxic chemicals.&quot; He reconsidered, and approved the gift.