Colgate recalls toothpaste in the US

Toothpaste sold in US discount stores in four states with the Colgate-label has been found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical used as an anti-freezing substance.

Colgate's website has warned, "There are indications that this product does not contain fluoride and may contain DEG."

Labelling the product as counterfeit, Colgate-Palmolive said it "does not and would never use" DEG as an ingredient, and said it had launched a recall of these toothpaste tubes from discount retail outlets in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, where they were discovered.

The company cautioned on its website that the fakes were being sold in five-ounce (100ml) tubes, a size not made or sold in the US. Moreover, the contaminated toothpaste tubes are labelled 'Made in South Africa', whereas Colgate says it does not import toothpaste into the US from South Africa.

Misspelled words on the packaging of the tube were another way of identifying the fake products, Colgate warned. Misspellings include 'isclinically', 'SOUTH AFRLCA' and 'South African Dental Assoxiation'.

The company has set up a toll-free help line for consumers who suspect they may have purchased the counterfeit product.