EBAY SELLER SENTENCED OVER ILLEGAL TOOTH WHITENING
A47-YEAR-OLD from Runcorn has received 300 hours community service for selling tooth whitener containing 146 times the safe level of hydrogen peroxide.
Darren Paul Stanton, of Newmoore Lane, Sandymoor, pleaded guilty to 11 offences at Warrington Magistrates Court.
A Halton Borough Council spokesman said Trading Standards officers used a sting to buy three products from Stanton’s eBay business after receiving a tip-off.
He said the items were all tested and found to be well in excess of the legal limit.
The whiteners also had inadequate labelling information and the trader had imported these products to the UK to sell without making any safety checks or creating product technical files.
The trader claimed on his eBay pages that the whitener fell within the legal limit even though his over- seas supplier had stated the true peroxide levels on their own website.
Halton Council’s spokesman said a dental expert told magistrates that whitener with more than 0.1% available peroxide used in a unsupervised manner by members of the general public could result in burns to the unprotected gum tissue above the teeth, sensitivity as a result of permanent damage and an increased risk of cancer of the soft tissues of the mouth.
Magistrates sentenced Stanton to 300 hours unpaid work to be completed over 12 months.
He was also required to pay prosecution costs of £1,614.99 and a victim surcharge of £60, payable within 28 days.
Cllr Dave Cargill (Trading Standards) said: “The levels of hydrogen peroxide in tooth whiteners sold to the public is strictly controlled and must be less than 0.1% because of the risks of injury.
“But some of the DIY whitening products this trader was selling exceeded this level by 146 times.
“We would urge Halton residents to think twice before buying these types of products and to seek professional advice from a dental practitioner before embarking on this type of treatment.”
Residents have been urged to report the sale of potentially unsafe goods to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0345 404 0506.
The council spokesman said retailers must not sell products containing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide to the general public.
Dental practitioners registered with the General Dental Council are permitted to use products containing up to 6% hydrogen peroxide.
Only registered dentists, hygienists, therapists or clinical dental technicians are permitted to carry out teeth whitening procedures.