Hawaii Consumers Warned About Colgate Toothpaste

Colgate Toothpaste Warning

Hawaii State Department of Health is warning consumers and retailers about counterfeit Colgate toothpaste.

It may contain harmful bacteria and may also contain a poisonous chemical, Diethylene Glycol.

The public is advised not to use the counterfeit product and discard it or return it to the place of purchase.

While there have been no reported cases of illness associated with the use of this product, the DOH is currently locating and removing from sale the counterfeit toothpaste based on its false labeling. The DOH has found counterfeit Colgate toothpaste mainly in dollar-type discount stores in Hawaii, and is requiring these stores to remove the product and return or discard it.

All consumers currently using Colgate toothpaste or with unused product should look for the following indicators that identify a counterfeit product:

● The counterfeit toothpaste comes labeled as a 5 ounce (or 100 ml tube), a size not made or sold by Colgate in the United States

● 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 does NOT import toothpaste into the U.S. from South Africa and does NOT use diethylene glycol in any of their toothpaste products. The Colgate-Palmolive Company in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating the source of counterfeit Colgate toothpaste.

If you suspect that you have a counterfeit product, do not use it and discard the unused product.

The FDA has also found DEG in other brands of toothpaste imported from China and is stopping all suspect toothpaste from entering the U.S. Consumers are warned to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled as made in China.