Check the spelling on toothpaste - dentist

Molefe was speaking in the wake of the warning by the Ministry of Health early this week, advising customers to avoid toothpastes made in China because they contain Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a harmful chemical.

DEG is said to be used in anti-freeze and as a solvent and is not recommended for use in food and drugs. The chemical has apparently contributed to mass poisonings in different parts of the world. Molefe said one should scrutinise and make sure the toothpaste he or she is buying is not a counterfeit by also looking at the spelling used on the product. He stated that DEG "depresses the central nervous system and also has an effect on kidneys and liver". He believes that those using DEG as an ingredient in the toothpaste most likely want their final product to be much cheaper. He suspected that by using such an ingredient, they were reducing on costs.