LOS ANGELES – A company that sold some 80,000 tubes of toothpaste containing a poisonous ingredient has pleaded no contest to violating California's health and safety code.
Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo says Selective Imports pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor Thursday and will donate $33,000 to charity.
A second company, Vernon Sales, agreed last fall to pay $10,000 to charity. Delgadillo says the charges against the company will be dismissed in a year.
Selective Imports sold to distributors nationwide a Chinese toothpaste called Cooldent that contained a potentially harmful chemical called diethylene glycol. Vernon Sales was accused of distributing some in Los Angeles.
No illnesses were reported but most of the toothpaste is still unaccounted for. A recall remains in effect.
A call to the lawyer for Selective Imports wasn't immediately returned Friday.
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