By Kim Se-jeong
AmorePacific is facing a lawsuit from customers for using banned chemicals in its toothpaste products.
Fourteen consumers filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Wednesday, against company Chairman Suh Kyung-bae and President Shim Sang-bae as well as representatives from Miwon Commercial, the chemical supplier, and Sohn Mun-gi, the minister of food and drug safety.
The complaint comes two days after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety ordered a recall of 11 toothpaste brands from AmorePacific for containing methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT), chemicals banned in toothpastes here. The chemicals were also in some toxic humidifier disinfectants that allegedly killed dozens of people.
The consumers accused the company and the ministry of dereliction of duty and violating pharmaceutical laws. They plan to file a separate damages suit as well.
“AmorePacific sold the products while knowing they contain the chemicals,” said Next Law, the legal representative of the consumers, in a statement.
“Given that the company’s share in the toothpaste market is about 25 percent, one-fourth of the population are potential victims. We want an investigation and those found responsible to be held accountable.”
The two chemicals were used as preservatives in the toothpastes. While the ministry ordered the recall, its statement drew public criticism as it said no serious health impact was expected because the chemicals would be rinsed away with water, and that they were used in other countries.
AmorePacific made a public apology Tuesday, saying it would offer a refund to consumers who bought the affected products. A list of them is available on www.median433.co.kr in Korean only.
Rep. Lee Jeong-mi of the Justice Party said additional toothpaste makers and cosmetics companies still use the same substances. Coreana Cosmetics, one of those mentioned, dismissed Lee’s accusation.
The toothpaste scandal erupted as Korea is still recovering from a toxic humidifier disinfectant scandal. It was Korea’s worst biocide scandal, creating strong public distrust in companies and the government as they failed to regulate toxic products. In the disinfectant case, the victims were exposed to large amounts of the chemicals in a short period of time, and there was no regulation to prevent sales of those products.