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Tubes of counterfeit toothpaste being sold in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania under a false "Colgate" label were recalled recently after routine tests by the FDA found diethylene glycol, an antifreeze ingredient, in the toothpaste.

An FDA spokesman, Doug Arbesfeld, said that testing had revealed the chemical in a toothpaste product with the Colgate label, and the initial FDA announcement noted that the agency was unsure whether the product was from Colgate or a counterfeit.

Made in South Africa

The importer of the recalled toothpaste, MS USA Trading, Inc., is based in North Bergen, New Jersey. They imported the toothpaste from South Africa. The boxes that hold the five-ounce tubes of toothpaste have "Made in South Africa" printed on them, along with the word "Colgate," although the toothpaste was not made by Colgate-Palmolive, the makers of the classic brand of toothpaste. The counterfeits were being sold in discount stores.

Lots of Misspellings on Box

A statement from Colgate-Palmolive following the recall stated that "Colgate does not import toothpaste into the United States from South Africa…In addition, the counterfeit packages examined so far have several misspellings including: 'isclinically,' 'SOUTH AFRLCA,' and 'South African Dental Assoxiation'."

No Injuries So Far

Colgate-Palmolive and MS USA are working closely with the FDA to identify the company ultimately responsible for the counterfeit product. Colgate has said that consumers who think that they might have purchased counterfeit toothpaste can call Colgate's toll-free number (1-800-468-6502) to discuss their concerns. No injuries have been reported to date.

Have you used a tainted health product and suffered illness from it? Contact a product liablity attorney today to discuss your legal options.