US, Canada issue health warning on fake Chinese toothpastes

11 July, 2007:

Health authorities in Canada and Massachusetts (the United States) have again issued health warnings to consumers about the risk from fake toothpaste made in China, after more tainted products were found.

The warnings from Canada and the United States come amid growing concern in the United States and Latin America over the safety of Chinese
products after a series of recalls and bans on items ranging from children’s toys to toothpaste.

In Panama, 83 people died after taking medicines contaminated with a Chinese-made toxin in 2006 and the death toll is expected to rise, a prosecutor investigating the adulterated medicines is reported to have said.

Preliminary tests conducted in Canada on counterfeit ‘Colgate’ toothpaste indicate that the fake products may contain even more harmful bacteria than authorities first suspected, Canada’s Health officials have said.

The federal agency first issued a warning on June 29, 2007, cautioning consumers that counterfeit toothpaste products labeled as ‘Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Herbal’ and ‘Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection’ contained high levels of harmful bacteria.

Canadian authorities have advised consumers to avoid Chinese toothpastes available in the Canadian market after 21 products were found laced with harmful levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), an industrial solvent used in some anti-freeze products.

Colgate-Palmolive Company, based in New York, the United States, has said the products are fakes and that the company does not use, nor has ever used, diethylene glycol as an ingredient in its toothpaste anywhere in the world. The chemical is sometimes illegally used as an inexpensive sweetener and thickening agent.

Genuine ‘Colgate’ toothpastes approved for sale in Canada are labeled in English and French.

Fake products labeled ‘Manufactured in South Africa’ include misspellings on their packaging such as ‘isclinically,’ ‘SOUTH AFRLCA’ and ‘South African Dental Assoxiation.’

In Canada, these were found in Dollar Stores. Health officials in Canada have said distributors are cooperating and have removed the product from their shelves.

In Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health said that the Chinese toothpaste suspected to contain a toxic chemical was found in stores in about a dozen communities despite an import alert issued in June 2007 by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Local authorities in Massachusetts have urged consumers to avoid toothpastes labeled ‘Made in China,’ toothpaste labeled ‘Colgate’ that is manufactured in South Africa and toothpastes without any English-language labeling.