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A toothpaste importer in Los Angeles has agreed to pay a misdemeanor fine for importing 80,000 tubes of poisoned toothpaste, News 10 San Diego is reporting. Selective Imports pleaded no contest in court and agreed to pay $33,000 to a charity in Los Angeles.

The toxic toothpaste, which was made in China, was sold in the United States as Cooldent, said News 10. The tainted Cooldent toothpaste contained diethylene glycol, which is used in the manufacture of brake fluid and antifreeze and is a known liver and kidney toxin, reported News 10, which exposed one store for continuing to sell the poisonous Cooldent toothpaste after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued a recall notice on the contaminated product. The Associated Press (AP) explained that diethylene glycol is also known as diglycol or DEG.

Of concern is that most of the 80,000 recalled toxic toothpaste tubes remain unaccounted; the recall remains in effect, said News 10. As a matter-of-fact, following the recall, a News 10 investigative team discovered the tainted toothpaste for sale on shelves in three stores in California. When questioned, the owners told the news team they were not aware of a recal, but did remove the product. In 2007, when the news team spoke to Selective Import’s president, he blamed the vice president, said News10.

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