Toxic chemicals in toothpaste batch

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The affected batch was sold at markets and car boot sales but not in shops, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.

All tubes of Sensodyne contaminated with toxic levels of diethylene glycol should be thrown away. The affected products are fake Sensodyne Original and Sensodyne Mint sold in 50ml tubes. They were sold via "unauthorised" suppliers and not legitimate shops.

Diethylene glycol could be toxic to young children and anyone with an impaired liver or kidney function, the MHRA warned. But the watchdog had "no evidence" of any UK consumers suffering adverse reactions to the fake toothpaste.

The fake toothpastes were sold in packaging written in both English and Arabic. The affected batch code is PROD 07 2005/EXP 08/2008.

Genuine Sensodyne packs made by GlaxoSmithKline have packaging written only in English.

"We believe that elderly patients (possibly with impaired liver and kidney function) may have purchased this stock due to lower prices in markets, discount shops and car boot sales," the MHRA warned.

Genuine packs of Sensodyne are unaffected by the contamination scare.

The MHRA is not recalling Sensodyne toothpaste from legitimate shops.

In a statement, GlaxoSmithKline said it did not use diethylene glycol (DEG) as an ingredient in any of its toothpastes. "DEG could be toxic to young children and anyone with impaired liver or kidney function," it said.