中國(guó)開始調(diào)查牙膏可能含毒報(bào)導(dǎo) (China Begins Investigation Into Reports of Tainted Toothpaste)

有報(bào)導(dǎo)說(shuō)，中國(guó)官員已經(jīng)開始調(diào)查有關(guān)在中國(guó)生產(chǎn)并出口到巴拿馬等中美洲國(guó)家的牙膏含有可致命化學(xué)物質(zhì)的報(bào)導(dǎo)。

星期三公布在中國(guó)政府一個(gè)網(wǎng)站上的聲明說(shuō)，調(diào)查人員在北京和東部省份江蘇追查有關(guān)線索。聲明說(shuō)，政府成立了一個(gè)由海關(guān)和食品安全官員組成的行動(dòng)小組。

巴拿馬和多米尼加共和國(guó)當(dāng)局已經(jīng)從商店中撤出數(shù)以萬(wàn)計(jì)筒中國(guó)產(chǎn)牙膏。此前，一些牙膏中發(fā)現(xiàn)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(cuò)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(méi)有出現(xiàn)與牙膏有關(guān)的死亡報(bào)導(dǎo)。

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.