TORONTO: Canadian health department has advised people against using a Neem toothpaste from India, claiming that it contains high levels of harmful bacteria apart from a chemical found in antifreeze which was discovered earlier.
Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium, made by Calcutta Chemical Co. Ltd. in India, should not be used, Health Canada warned.
It claimed that ingesting the product could trigger fever, urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
The health department warning noted that while toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed, young children often do so while brushing their teeth.
Children and people with weakened immune systems would be at the highest risk of negative side-effects from using the toothpaste, Health Canada said, adding that Neem Active Toothpaste is not approved for sale in Canada.
"Infants, children and vulnerable populations such as patients hospitalised for severe underlying diseases or with compromised immune systems are more sensitive to these effects. Severe vomiting and diarrhoea could lead to potentially life-threatening dehydration," it said in a press release.
Late last month, Health Canada warned Canadians not to use the toothpaste because it alleged that the product had been found to contain unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol or DEG, used in the making of antifreeze
"Further to the Health Canada warning issued July 26, 2007, further testing on Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium, manufactured by Calcutta Chemical Co. Ltd in India, has revealed that in addition to unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), the product also contains high levels of harmful bacteria," Health Canada's press release said.
"This poses additional significant health risks, especially to children and individuals with compromised immune systems."
The Canadian government, through Health Canada, has issued an additional warning to Canadians not to use ''Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium'', as testing revealed the presence of high levels of harmful bacteria. The same brand of toothpaste was subject to a recall July 26, 2007 when it was found to contain unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol (DEG).

Health Canada has advised Canadians to discontinue use of the toothpaste, which is manufactured by Calcutta Chemical Co. Ltd. in India, and keep it out of the reach of children. The toothpaste is not approved for sale in Canada, but has been found in stores across the country.

Although the species of bacteria found was not revealed by Health Canada, they described possible adverse effects such as "fever, urinary tract infection, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain." A specific warning focused on particularly vulnerable groups; infants, children and hospitalised patients with compromised immune systems. 

This current warning from Health Canada follows a similar recall of toothpaste from China, including some counterfeit Colgate brands, which were found to contain DEG and high levels of harmful bacteria.

To obtain more information on the most recent warning, consumers are advised to call Health Canada’s public enquiries line at 1-866-225-0709.