Aekyung Industrial recalls China-made toothpaste over use of banned chemical

Toothpaste sold by Aekyung Industrial / Korea Times photo by Ahn Seo-hyeon

Public concern is growing after triclosan, a preservative banned from oral care products, was detected in six types of toothpaste sold by Aekyung Industrial, the manufacturer of Korea’s widely used “2080” toothpaste brand.

The company stated that it confirmed the presence of trace amounts of triclosan in toothpaste products manufactured by its Chinese supplier, Domy, which were sold domestically. It has suspended imports and distribution of the affected products and begun a voluntary recall.

Triclosan was once widely used in cosmetics and hygiene products but has since been restricted from oral care products in Korea due to concerns about endocrine disruption and potential links to cancer.

Official notice on Aekyung Industrial's website regarding the recall of 2080 toothpaste products due to triclosan detection / Captured from Aekyung Industrial's website

According to Aekyung Industrial, the products containing triclosan were manufactured from April 2023 and had been sold for approximately two and a half years. The company added that the remaining 127 toothpaste products under the 2080 brand are all domestically produced and unaffected.

The six recalled products include: 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.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products can request a refund, regardless of the purchase date, usage status, or proof of purchase, by contacting the company's recall hotline (080-051-1577) or applying through its website.

Meanwhile, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that it has collected samples of the affected 2080 toothpaste products and is currently conducting tests.