Consumers are being warned not to use toothpaste made in China. The Food and Drug Administration is warning that the toothpaste may contain a chemical commonly used in antifreeze.

The FDA is advising consumers to throw out the toothpaste. Officials are mainly concerned about toothpaste sold in bargain retail outlets. The agency has increased security of toothpaste made in China because of reports of contamination in other countries as well.

Prolonged exposure to the chemical, called DEG can be particularly harmful to those with kidney and liver disease. Officials are unsure how many of the tubes made it into the market place.

The chemical has also been reported in sedatives and cough medicines. DEG-laced cough syrup was linked to more than 40 deaths in Panama last year.