SAN DIEGO -- The Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning about toothpaste made in China, saying it contained a poisonous chemical.

10News investigators sent out researchers to local stores to see if any tubes of the toxic toothpaste remained on shelves.

Yoram Cohen, owner of Joe’s 99 Cent Store, is angry at the 10News I-Team.

Cohen is angry because researchers working undercover for the I-Team found dozens of boxes of recalled toothpaste at his store on Linda Vista Road.

The I-Team also found that other stores locally still had the recalled toothpaste for sale.

10News I-Team researcher Sahara Bushue said, “I felt it was awful, knowing that they sell toxic toothpaste at the 99 Cent store because I know my grandmother, my mom, one of their favorite places to shop is the 99 Cent store."

According to 10News reporter Jacqui Nguyen, “The 10News I-Team checked 34 locations throughout San Diego County. Three stores sold the questionable toothpaste including this one particular location on El Cajon Boulevard. Our I-Team researcher was able to purchase one box here."

The store on El Cajon Boulevard is owned by Cohen’s brother, Maurice. 10News investigators suspect the pair are buying from the same toothpaste supplier. One clerk at the El Cajon store confirmed to the I-Team that both stores do sell the same toothpaste.

"So, how long does it usually take for you guys to get shipments in?" asked Bushue.

The clerk replied, “We receive merchants every week.”

The I-Team is told that the toothpaste is also sold at his brother’s store.

"So, they have some?" asked Bushue.

“Yeah," the clerk replied. "It's on Linda Vista Road."

At the Linda Vista store location, researchers found dozens of tubes for sale.

When the I-Team asked Yoram Cohen about the toothpaste, he denied selling it.

He also denied knowing they were on the FDA voluntary recall list.

When Bushue talked to Cohen’s clerk the week before, she asked if there were any problems with the toothpaste.

"..... Have you heard anything about that? The toothpaste is different... something's different not like the real brand toothpaste," said Bushue.

The store clerk shook her head and said, "Uh... ah. No.”

“You haven't heard anything?" asked Bushue.

According to the FDA, the toothpaste is manufactured under names like Cooldent, Brightmax, Dentakleen and Mr. Cool Coolmint. All of them contain the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol, also known as diglycol.

Medical toxicologist Dr. Richard Clark said, “This chemical may not be poisonous in small doses, but in large does it could definitely be poisonous to the body.”

Clark said diethylene glycol is a kidney and liver toxin and issued to make brake fluid, anti-freeze and ink cartridges.

“You can get renal failure and if you don’t get medication or help or dialysis for that, you can die,” said Clark.

I-Team researchers found that the 98 Cent Store located in the 300 block of South Rancho Santa Fe Road in San Marcos sold Cooldent. The owner, Sideer Saco, said he promised to pull the questionable items off of his shelves immediately.

A team of undercover I-Team researchers has confirmed that the toothpaste was removed.

The Cohen brothers also promised to remove the products from their shelves.

10News investigators said an undercover team would come back to check on the progress of that effort.

Note:
In the 10News story about toothpaste made in China which contains diglcol, there was some video of Sheffields toothpaste. This was done in error and we apologize to Sheffield for any confusion this may have caused.

Sheffield addresses the diglycol issue at http://www.sheffield-pharmaceuticals.com/pdf/deg.pdf.

Or you can go to the FDA website for more information at http://fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/New01646.html.