China says is investigating reports that toothpaste contaminated with a potentially lethal chemical had been exported to Central America.

Thousands of tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste have been confiscated in Panama and the Dominican Republic.

The toothpaste contains diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in engine coolants, authorities there say.

A series of scares over the safety of Chinese products have recently aroused global concern.

The Dominican Republic has banned the sale of two different brands of toothpaste, both of which were made in China and imported through Panama.


Panama removed the brands from shops last week after tests found they tested positive for the chemical.

Consumers in both countries have been advised not to use the products.

On Wednesday, the Chinese government said a joint team from several government agencies was conducting investigations in both Beijing and the eastern province Jiangsu, and that the results would be made public as soon as possible.

A series of recent incidents have highlighted international concerns over the safety of Chinese products. The subject was raised by the US in bilateral trade talks this week.

Earlier this year pet food ingredients from China contaminated with the chemical melamine were blamed for the deaths of dogs and cats in the US, leading to a massive pet food recall.

On Wednesday China's official China Daily newspaper issued an editorial criticising the country's food safety regulators and their response to this earlier crisis.

However, it also said that while some exported food did not meet international standards, the biggest problem was China's domestic food safety situation.

"It is an open secret here that our manufacturers usually employ higher standards when it comes to exports," it said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6684563.stm