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Four US States In The Grip Of Fake Colgate Toothpaste Scare |
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Written by Neil Simmons
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Friday, 15 June 2007 |
Diethylene Glycol, the poisonous chemical that was detected in Chinese toothpaste, has now found its way into fake Colgate toothpaste, according to a statement released by the Colgate–Palmolive Company.
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland are the four US states where the counterfeit products were found. Diethylene glycol is a lethal chemical that is used mainly in antifreeze and industrial solvents.
The chemical is implicated in liver and kidney toxicity and may be especially harmful to children and the very elderly. Earlier this month, the FDA was forced to issue a warning on Chinese toothpaste found to contain the offending chemical. The scare had also affected many Latin American countries including Panama. Also Nicaraguan authorities seized 40,000 tubes of Chinese toothpaste sold under the brands "Excel" and "Mr Cool."
The latest toothpaste scare apparently involves the products imported from South Africa. Colgate–Palmolive said that it never used DEG in any of its products and does not import toothpaste manufactured in South Africa into the United States. The fake toothpaste can be identified because it is labeled "Manufactured in South Africa."
Colgate also added that the labels had many misspellings and hence could be easily made out. "Counterfeit toothpaste is not manufactured or distributed by Colgate and has no connection with the Company whatsoever. Colgate is working closely with the US FDA to help to identify those responsible for the counterfeit product," it said in a released statement.
Diethylene glycol was also implicated in a sugarless liquid expectorant cough syrup taken by people in Panama last year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The syrup was believed to be manufactured by a Chinese company called Taixing Glycerine Factory and resulted in 46 deaths.
Thus far the Colgate products have not caused any illnesses. However the company is asking consumers who suspect they may have purchased counterfeit product, to call Colgate’s toll-free number at 1 800 468 6502.
It also assured people that locally manufactured Colgate toothpaste was "100 percent safe."
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