中國開始調查牙膏可能含毒報導 (China Begins Investigation Into Reports of Tainted Toothpaste)

有報導說，中國官員已經開始調查有關在中國生產并出口到巴拿馬等中美洲國家的牙膏含有可致命化學物質的報導。

星期三公布在中國政府一個網站上的聲明說，調查人員在北京和東部省份江蘇追查有關線索。聲明說，政府成立了一個由海關和食品安全官員組成的行動小組。

巴拿馬和多米尼加共和國當局已經從商店中撤出數以萬計筒中國產牙膏。此前，一些牙膏中發現含有二甘醇，一種防凍劑中常用的成分。

去年，二甘醇在巴拿馬被錯誤地同止咳糖漿混在了一起。那次混合事件造成至少51人喪生。目前還沒有出現與牙膏有關的死亡報導。

Chinese officials have begun an investigation into reports that toothpaste produced in China and exported to Panama and other Central American countries contains a potentially deadly chemical.

A statement posted Wednesday on a government website said investigators are pursuing leads in both Beijing and the eastern province of Jiangsu. The statement said the government has formed a task force of customs and food safety officials.

Authorities in Panama and the Dominican Republic have pulled tens of thousands of tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste from stores after it was discovered to contain diethylene glycol - an ingredient commonly used in antifreeze.

Last year, diethylene glycol was mistakenly mixed with cough syrup in Panama. The mix-up killed at least 51 people. No deaths have been reported in connection with the toothpaste.