Colgate: Low risk from counterfeits

[June 15, 2007]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Personal-care products maker Colgate-Palmolive Co. said Friday there is a low health risk to consumers who purchased tubes of counterfeit toothpaste, which were recalled because they may contain a poisonous chemical.

The company, which conducted its own analysis on counterfeit samples, said both it and the Food and Drug Administration came to the same conclusion.

On Thursday, MS USA Trading Inc. of North Bergen, N.J., the importer involved in the initial recall announcement, said the toothpaste may contain diethylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze.

The company said the 5-ounce or 100-ml toothpaste, imported from South Africa, was sold in discount stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

"Made in South Africa" is printed on the boxes, which include Regular, Gel, Triple and Herbal versions. There may also be several misspelled words on the package, including "isclinically," "SOUTH AFRLCA" and "South African Dental Assoxiation."

Colgate said it is currently picking up suspected counterfeit products at discount stores where it was reportedly distributed and checking to make sure all accounts handling Colgate toothpaste in the United States do not have the counterfeit product.

Colgate said it is providing more representatives on its consumer information line, extending its hours and adding weekend hours to help answer questions.

The consumer information line is 1-800-468-6502.

[Associated Press]