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The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on the 20th that triclosan was detected at up to 0.16% in 754 out of 870 batches of 2080 toothpaste (6 types) imported by Aekyung Industrial. (Photo: Yonhap News) |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Triclosan, a substance linked to human health concerns such as hormonal disruption and banned in oral care products in South Korea since 2016, was detected in the majority of Aekyung Industrial’s imported ‘2080 Toothpaste’ products.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the 20th, a total of 870 batch numbers of six types of 2080 toothpaste imported from China’s DOMI manufacturer since February 2023, along with 128 domestically manufactured batches, were collected and tested. Triclosan was detected in 754 imported batches at levels of up to 0.16%, while none of the domestically manufactured products showed traces of the substance.
To address consumer concerns, the MFDS also conducted separate inspections on the 128 domestically produced batches of 2080 toothpaste.
The affected imported products include six types: 2080 Basic Toothpaste, 2080 Daily Care Toothpaste, 2080 Smart Care Plus Toothpaste, 2080 Classic Care Toothpaste, 2080 Triple Effect Alpha Fresh Toothpaste, and 2080 Triple Effect Alpha Strong Toothpaste.
Triclosan is a preservative used to prevent product degradation but has been completely banned in oral care products in South Korea since 2016.
The MFDS is investigating the circumstances of triclosan contamination in the imported products. The probe found that the DOMI manufacturer used triclosan to disinfect toothpaste production equipment starting April 2023, which caused the contamination.
Aekyung Industrial was also found to have delayed product recalls, inadequately managed quality control for imported products, and distributed imported toothpaste containing triclosan domestically. Administrative measures against the company are now underway.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
