This suffices for an entire weekend's hilarity.
The government is stopping all imports of Chinese toothpaste to test for a deadly chemical reportedly found in tubes sold elsewhere in the world.
"There is absolutely no evidence of this toothpaste in the U.S. but it is what we believe a prudent and cautionary measure to protect the health of the American public," Arbesfeld said.
Just how much Chinese toothpaste is imported into the U.S.? About $3.3 million. Enough fluoride, tartar agent and humectant for Flushing, NY, perhaps. The American toothpaste market has been estimated at $1.5 billion annually.
An FDA ban -- taken the day after the Chinese negotiating team has left Washington, DC -- of a product stated by the FDA to be "absolutely" harmless is not the kind of symbolic action to impress the Chinese. It certainly doesn't impress the American public.
UPDATE (May 25, 2007): This podcast is really worth listening to. Sorry to spoil your dinners. (Click through to the webpage and then click the LISTEN button under the title, "As Imports Increase, a Tense Dependence on China."
UPDATE (May 30, 2007): Yumm... Honey, that monkfish from China is delicious. ARRGH! GAK! Oh, no, it's actually poisonous puffer fish!
