Consumers should be on the look-out for illegally manufactured counterfeit toothpaste falsely labeled as “Colgate” and imported from South Africa. Updated information shows this product contains harmful bacteria, but authorities did not elaborate as to what the bacteria are. This update comes from additional developments included in a report by Canadian health authorities as well as Colgate’s own investigation.
In the initial recall announcement, the importer, MS USA Trading, Inc. of North Bergen, N.J., said the toothpaste may contain diethylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze. The trading company said the problem was discovered in routine testing by the Food and Drug Administration.
Colgate-Palmolive assures customers that “counterfeit toothpaste is not manufactured or distributed by Colgate and has no connection with the company whatsoever”. They also add that diethylene glycol is not now and has never been an ingredient in Colgate toothpaste anywhere in the world.
According to a Colgate-Palmolive news release, the counterfeit products were found in several ‘dollar-type discount stores’ in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Updated information also includes small discount retailers in Canada.
Colgate-Palmolive, in cooperation with government health and law enforcement authorities, continues to remove counterfeit toothpaste from the shelves of retail stores. Here are some indicators to look for to identify the counterfeit product:
• The counterfeit toothpaste is labeled as a five ounce or 100 ml tube, a size not made or sold by Colgate in the United States.
• Includes regular, gel, triple and herbal versions.
• There are words on the package, “Manufactured by: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE (PTV) LTD., SOUTH AFRICA-52 Commissioner Street, Boksburg, 1460”
• There may be several misspelled words on the product carton including: “isclinically”, “SOUTH AFRLCA” and “South African Dental Assoxiation”.
Colgate products are sold in a wide variety of retail outlets including supermarkets, pharmacies, general merchandise stores, large dollar stores and club stores. To help you identify genuine Colgate toothpaste made for sale in the United States, look for:
• The words “Distr. by Colgate-Palmolive, New York, NY 10022” appear in the lower right-hand corner of the panel on the box.
• In the white box that contains the UPC bar code genuine Colgate products for sale in the U.S. begin with the code number 35000.
Colgate says it is working closely with the FDA to help identify those responsible for the counterfeit product.
If you suspect that you have counterfeit product, do not use it. Visit the FDA’s web site (www.fda.gov) for more information or call Colgate’s customer service line (1-800-468-6502)
In the initial recall announcement, the importer, MS USA Trading, Inc. of North Bergen, N.J., said the toothpaste may contain diethylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze. The trading company said the problem was discovered in routine testing by the Food and Drug Administration.
Colgate-Palmolive assures customers that “counterfeit toothpaste is not manufactured or distributed by Colgate and has no connection with the company whatsoever”. They also add that diethylene glycol is not now and has never been an ingredient in Colgate toothpaste anywhere in the world.
According to a Colgate-Palmolive news release, the counterfeit products were found in several ‘dollar-type discount stores’ in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Updated information also includes small discount retailers in Canada.
Colgate-Palmolive, in cooperation with government health and law enforcement authorities, continues to remove counterfeit toothpaste from the shelves of retail stores. Here are some indicators to look for to identify the counterfeit product:
• The counterfeit toothpaste is labeled as a five ounce or 100 ml tube, a size not made or sold by Colgate in the United States.
• Includes regular, gel, triple and herbal versions.
• There are words on the package, “Manufactured by: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE (PTV) LTD., SOUTH AFRICA-52 Commissioner Street, Boksburg, 1460”
• There may be several misspelled words on the product carton including: “isclinically”, “SOUTH AFRLCA” and “South African Dental Assoxiation”.
Colgate products are sold in a wide variety of retail outlets including supermarkets, pharmacies, general merchandise stores, large dollar stores and club stores. To help you identify genuine Colgate toothpaste made for sale in the United States, look for:
• The words “Distr. by Colgate-Palmolive, New York, NY 10022” appear in the lower right-hand corner of the panel on the box.
• In the white box that contains the UPC bar code genuine Colgate products for sale in the U.S. begin with the code number 35000.
Colgate says it is working closely with the FDA to help identify those responsible for the counterfeit product.
If you suspect that you have counterfeit product, do not use it. Visit the FDA’s web site (www.fda.gov) for more information or call Colgate’s customer service line (1-800-468-6502)
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