Some Dollar-Store Bargains Could Prove Costly
Discount Stores Offer Low-Cost Items
POSTED: 4:42 p.m. CDT May 11, 2004
UPDATED: 3:35 p.m. CDT May 12, 2004
DALLAS -- For families on strict budgets, dollar discount stores offer low-cost items that can help make ends meet. Some personal hygiene items in the stores, however, might have ended up on the shelves without approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Live Poll: Do You Shop At Dollar Stores?
An NBC 5 investigation revealed tubes of toothpaste manufactured in or imported from foreign countries. According to the investigation, the tubes appear to be U.S. products, but closer inspection revealed products from around the world, some without labeling required by U.S. law.
NBC 5 investigators identified toothpaste tubes from South Africa, Kenya and Canada. The team visited more than 12 dollar discount stores and found foreign tubes in eight locations, including Dollar Tree stores in Bedford and Fort Worth, Greenbacks in Dallas and 99 Cent Plus in Arlington, according to NBC 5.
Dr. Charles Wakefield, a professor at the Baylor College of Dentistry, said fluoride levels in the foreign versions of toothpaste represent the biggest hazard. The fluoride in the South African version was 10 times that commonly sold in the United States.
"You just don't want kids to swallow it," Wakefield said. "I really don't know how these are legally in stores."
Some tubes purchased by the NBC 5 team were approved by African dental groups. Wakefield said the tubes should carry an American Dental Association seal.
"See, this has the ADA seal on the outside of the box, and that's what you want to see," he said.
Fluoride levels aren't the only concern. The investigators purchased four tubes of Canadian Aquafresh that expired two years ago.
The store owner declined to be interviewed. He did say, however, he buys the products from wholesalers, who failed to inform him of the expiration dates. Owners of the other stores failed to return phone calls seeking comments.
A Colgate representative said the company's foreign products are safe for consumption in the United States. Representatives from manufacturers of other products purchased during the investigation said their companies do not import into the United States products intended for sale in other countries. An FDA official said the agency relies on local inspectors to enforce import regulations.
Dallas employs 12 inspectors to handle grocery stores and restaurants that sell perishable items. Ahsan Khan, of the city of Dallas, said the inspectors do not inspect dollar stores.
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Bargain Toothpastes Pose HazardLive Poll: Do You Shop At Dollar Stores?
An NBC 5 investigation revealed tubes of toothpaste manufactured in or imported from foreign countries. According to the investigation, the tubes appear to be U.S. products, but closer inspection revealed products from around the world, some without labeling required by U.S. law.
NBC 5 investigators identified toothpaste tubes from South Africa, Kenya and Canada. The team visited more than 12 dollar discount stores and found foreign tubes in eight locations, including Dollar Tree stores in Bedford and Fort Worth, Greenbacks in Dallas and 99 Cent Plus in Arlington, according to NBC 5.
Dr. Charles Wakefield, a professor at the Baylor College of Dentistry, said fluoride levels in the foreign versions of toothpaste represent the biggest hazard. The fluoride in the South African version was 10 times that commonly sold in the United States.
"You just don't want kids to swallow it," Wakefield said. "I really don't know how these are legally in stores."
Some tubes purchased by the NBC 5 team were approved by African dental groups. Wakefield said the tubes should carry an American Dental Association seal.
"See, this has the ADA seal on the outside of the box, and that's what you want to see," he said.
Fluoride levels aren't the only concern. The investigators purchased four tubes of Canadian Aquafresh that expired two years ago.
The store owner declined to be interviewed. He did say, however, he buys the products from wholesalers, who failed to inform him of the expiration dates. Owners of the other stores failed to return phone calls seeking comments.
A Colgate representative said the company's foreign products are safe for consumption in the United States. Representatives from manufacturers of other products purchased during the investigation said their companies do not import into the United States products intended for sale in other countries. An FDA official said the agency relies on local inspectors to enforce import regulations.
Dallas employs 12 inspectors to handle grocery stores and restaurants that sell perishable items. Ahsan Khan, of the city of Dallas, said the inspectors do not inspect dollar stores. Copyright 2004 by nbc5i.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
