Last week, GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Super PoliGrip denture adhesives, announced it would voluntarily stop the manufacture, distribution and advertising of Super PoliGrip varieties that contain zinc because of concerns that excessive exposure to zinc in denture creams could lead to serious health problems. GlaxoSmithKline’s announcement did not reveal that in 2009, it received an increased number of adverse event reports describing the development of neurological symptoms, myeloneuropathy and blood dyscrasias.

That fact was disclosed in a “Dear Doctor” letter sent to dentists on the same day GlaxoSmithKline made its Super PoliGrip announcement. According to the letter, those adverse event reports, together with the published literature, suggest that excessive use of zinc-containing denture creams may lead to the development of excessive levels of zinc in the blood, associated with copper deficiency.

In spite of this action, none of these products is being recalled and those currently in stores are still available for sale.

Since GlaxoSmithKline made its announcement regarding zinc-containing Super PoliGrip denture creams, Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, a national law firm representing people in denture cream zinc poisoning lawsuits, has issued several statements calling on GlaxoSmithKline to issue a full recall of all Super PoliGrip products made with zinc. The firm has also appealed to Wal-Mart, Target and other retailers to pull these denture creams from their shelves.

“If these Super PoliGrip denture creams are allowed to remain on store shelves, it is almost certain that more consumers will suffer zinc-related injuries,” Andres Alonso, a partner of Parker Waichman Alonso, said in one statement. “GlaxoSmithKline must issue a full recall right now.”

Last July, Mr. Alonso was named Co- Lead Counsel to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Denture Cream Products Liability Litigation currently underway in federal court in Miami.