In yet another case of product contamination, Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) has discovered counterfeit packages of its Colgate-brand toothpaste on the shelves of discount stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. A statement noted that, "There are indications that this product does not contain fluoride and may contain [poisonous chemical] diethylene glycol." So . . . it won't clean your teeth, but it might make you sick or worse. Lose-lose.
Diethylene Glycol, used as a solvent and in antifreeze, has been "improperly used as a low-cost substitute for glycerin and propylene glycol in pharmaceutical preparations," according to a June 8 statement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Certain toothpastes imported from China in recent weeks have been found to contain the potentially deadly substitute ingredient; the FDA is advising consumers to discard any toothpaste labeled as made in China.
Fortunately, there is clue for any concerned residents of the targeted states. The impostor Colgate tubes are labeled "Manufactured in South Africa" -- but CL does not import toothpaste into the U.S. Proving that criminals aren't always masterminds, the fake tubes have also been found to contain misspellings, such as the "South African Dental Assoxiation" or "SOUTH AFRLCA."
Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.
Is there a Bernie Madoff in your portfolio?
New McDonald's to include recharging stations for electric cars
Cramer on BloggingStocks: Dirty manipulation 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-15-2007 @ 10:51AM
nyscof said...
I wonder why Colgate doesn't tell you that fluoride is highly toxic - so toxic that if a small child ate an entire tube of fluoridated toothpaste, it wold kill the child.
Read the back of the toothpaste tube. You must keep fluoridated toothpaste out of reach of small children and treat it like you would any other drug in the home. Putting candy and bubble gum flavors in fluoridated toothpaste is inviting disaster
But I guess, while it's bad for kids to ingest fluoride, candy flavored fluoridated toothpaste is good for business. And that's the American way, isn't it. Do what's best for the bottom line while at work and teach your kids to do what's morally right when not at work.
Deaths from fluoride
http://www.fluoride-history.de/ (Scroll down)
A 51 year old committed intentional suicide by fluoridated toothpaste, according to the 2002 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. (page 367 - #138p).
Fluoride News Releases
http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu
Fluoride Action Network http://www.FluorideAction.Net
6-15-2007 @ 10:52AM
nyscof said...
I wonder why Colgate doesn't tell you that fluoride is highly toxic - so toxic that if a small child ate an entire tube of fluoridated toothpaste, it wold kill the child.
Read the back of the toothpaste tube. You must keep fluoridated toothpaste out of reach of small children and treat it like you would any other drug in the home. Putting candy and bubble gum flavors in fluoridated toothpaste is inviting disaster
But I guess, while it's bad for kids to ingest fluoride, candy flavored fluoridated toothpaste is good for business. And that's the American way, isn't it. Do what's best for the bottom line while at work and teach your kids to do what's morally right when not at work.
Deaths from fluoride
http://www.fluoride-history.de/ (Scroll down)
A 51 year old committed intentional suicide by fluoridated toothpaste, according to the 2002 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. (page 367 - #138p).
Fluoride News Releases
http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu
Fluoride Action Network http://www.FluorideAction.Net
6-15-2007 @ 1:02PM
jennifer.k.lloyd said...
I guess this means that I have to be more careful when I purchase weird food items from discount stores.
6-15-2007 @ 2:39PM
relate said...
I started using a natural form
the company stands behind each product
http://www.shaklee.net/thehealthyway/product/31780