The Brush Off: Counterfeit Colgate toothpaste found in 4 states

Posted Jun 14th 2007 11:45AM by Beth Gaston Moon
Filed under: Bad News, Consumer Experience, Scandals, Colgate-Palmolive (CL)

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.

Tags: china, CL, colgate palmolive, ColgatePalmolive, contamination, FDA, food and drug administration, FoodAndDrugAdministration, health issues, HealthIssues, south africa, SouthAfrica, toothpaste

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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