Product Information:

In June 2007, Colgate published alerts to protect consumers against possible risk from reported counterfeit toothpaste. Colgate is not aware of any current instances of counterfeit toothpaste falsely labeled as Colgate containing any hazardous ingredient, in the U.S. or anywhere else.

Consumers should remain cautious and buy authentic, quality Colgate products from authorized retails.

The Colgate-Palmolive Company reported in June 2007 that 5-ounce tubes of counterfeit toothpaste sold in discount stores in four states under a Colgate label are being recalled because they may contain a poisonous chemical.

Colgate reports the counterfeit toothpaste, falsely labeled as made in South Africa, was sold in discount stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Colgate warned that there are indications that the product does not contain fluoride and may contain diethylene glycol. Diethylene glycol is a chemical used in brake fluid, antifreeze and solvents that is believed to cause kidney failure in sufficient doses.

A Food and Drug Administration official, Doug Arbesfeld, reported that product testing found the chemical in a toothpaste product with the Colgate label. The same chemical has led to the recall of several brands of toothpaste imported from China on other occasions.

To help consumers identify genuine Colgate toothpaste made for sale in the United States, look for the following:

- The words "Distr. by Colgate-Palmolive, New York, NY 10022" appear in the lower right-hand corner of a panel on the box.

- In the white box that contains the UPC bar code, genuine Colgate products for sale in the U.S. begin with the code number 35000

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