Counterfeit toothpaste found in US stores

14 June 2007 23:07  [Source: ICIS news]

NEW YORK (ICIS news)--Fake Colgate toothpaste, which could contain diethylene glycol (DEG), has been found in several dollar-type stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, a Colgate-Palmolive official said on Thursday.

DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent. The chemical is a central-nervous-system depressant and a potent kidney and liver toxin.

"The counterfeit toothpaste can be easily recognized because it is labelled as manufactured in South Africa. Colgate does not import toothpaste into the US from South Africa," the official said.

"The counterfeit packages, in addition, have several misspellings including 'isclinically,' 'South AFRLCA' and 'South African Dental Assoxiation,' " he added.

Colgate said it is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help identify those responsible for the counterfeit products.

The FDA is currently recalling toothpaste imported from China, which are suspected to contain DEG. Recent FDA inspections found imported Chinese toothpaste products containing about 3% DEG by weight.

The products inspected were not labelled as containing DEG.
By: Doris de Guzman
+1 713 525 2653

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