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Gilchrist & Soames,
an Indianapolis-based provider of toiletry products for the hotel industry,
has initiated a worldwide voluntary recall of its Gilchrist & Soames
0.65oz/18ml toothpaste manufactured in China for the company
by Ming Fai Enterprises International Co., LTD, after independent tests showed
some samples of the toothpaste contained diethylene glycol, or DEG.
The United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") is not
aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from toothpaste containing DEG. However,
the agency is concerned about potential risks from chronic exposure to DEG
and exposure to DEG in certain populations, such as children and individuals
with kidney or liver disease. DEG in toothpaste has a low but meaningful risk
of toxicity and injury to these populations. Toothpaste is not intended
to be swallowed, but FDA is concerned about unintentional swallowing or ingestion
of toothpaste containing DEG. This voluntary recall is being conducted
in cooperation with the FDA. The Company also has notified the Department
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in the UK to enable it to notify
the European Commission to launch a RAPEX notification in the European Union.
Hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Barbados, Dominican
Republic or Turks & Caicos that received the recalled toothpaste from
the company's United States distribution center, and those located
in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland
and the UAE serviced by the company's U.K. distribution center, are being
asked to destroy any remaining inventory.
Hotel guests, who may have received the recalled toothpaste from hotels
in any of these countries, should safely dispose of it.
"After receiving the FDA alert June 1 about tainted toothpaste manufactured
in China, we immediately contacted our two Chinese toothpaste suppliers and
initiated a series of independent lab tests in both Hong Kong and the United
States to determine the possible presence of DEG," said Kathie De Voe,
president of Gilchrist & Soames.
At the same time, Gilchrist & Soames stopped all outgoing shipments and
quarantined all of its "Made in China" toothpaste. The Company
also communicated with all of its hotel clients and suggested that they stop
offering Chinese-made Gilchrist & Soames toothpaste to their guests until
further investigation and independent testing by Gilchrist & Soames and
the FDA. The June 1 FDA Consumer Alert was attached. The Company took these
steps even though its toothpaste was not among those cited in the FDA warning.
De Voe said, "The fifth round of our independent lab tests showed the
presence of DEG in some samples at levels exceeding FDA guidelines from one
of our China suppliers. We immediately began the process of initiating a voluntary
recall of our complimentary-sized (.65oz/18ml) Gilchrist & Soames toothpaste.
We want to ensure that any contaminated toothpaste is safely disposed of and/or
destroyed."
Gilchrist & Soames is notifying its hotel clients in those countries
where the toothpaste was distributed to discard their inventories. The Company
is working with each hotel on a guest notification program. Materials will
inform guests about this voluntary recall, including the FDA Web address for
current toothpaste recalls (http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/toothpaste.html),
as well as a toll-free telephone number at Gilchrist & Soames U.S. headquarters
(1-866-587-6542) that hotel guests may call if they desire more information
about the recall. The European Union Web address for further information about
toothpaste manufactured in China is http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/rapex/rapex_archives_en.cfm.
Local contact numbers in Europe for Gilchrist & Soames are as follows:
Germany – 004908000004988, Ireland – 00353 1800932251, France – 0033
0805114958, Spain – 0034800098797, Switzerland - 0041 0800 001285, Hungary – 0036
0680018077, Italy – 0039 800986779, UK – 08003112139, Belgium – 0032
080048630.
De Voe said, "We are thankful that the small size of our tubes
(.65oz/18ml) may help reduce the risk. However, we strongly encourage consumers
to dispose of any of the recalled toothpaste they may still have."
Gilchrist & Soames is working with its global supply chain partners to
be certain they meet the standards and specifications outlined in its new testing
criteria. New testing to confirm the absence of DEG will be part of that process.
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the FDA, and the European
Authorities.
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