South African Colgate?
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
June 15, 2007 10:42am CST
We all know about the problems with China substituting diethylene glycol (an antifreeze component) for glycerine in toothpaste they were exporting.
Now South Africa is not only exporting toothpaste with diethylene glycol; they are doing it under the name of a major company - COLGATE.
With a few minor exceptions, these boxes and tubes look like the real thing. These boxes clearly state "Made in South Africa" and have some misspellings on the labels.
They are trying to get these products off the shelves where they were found in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. But, on a news report last night a reporter found some of the counterfeit toothpaste on the shelves of a local store even though a recall had gone out to store owners.
The FDA says the risk is minimal because a person would have to swallow the toothpaste for the diethylene glycol to enter their body and MOST people know to spit out toothpaste.
BUT, how many parents have repeatedly told a small child to "spit" only to find the toothpaste went the "wrong way"?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
15 Jun 07
Once again we find proof that there are people who will do anything to make a few bucks.
Thanks, for posting this. I will be checking all my personal hygiene products to see if they were made in South Africa.
Afterall, if they'll do it with toothpaste, they'll do it with deoderant or soap, too.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
15 Jun 07
Since we don't eat deoderant or soap (except for a few people who need to have their mouths washed out), this chemical would not be a problem.
But, if I pay for Colgate for my family, I want Colgate not an imitation. If I wanted an imitation, there are plenty of store brands and generics out there.
We try to help out third world countries by allowing them to ship products to the big countries without having to pay high customs fees and tariffs and you see what it gets us.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
18 Jun 07
You know, this is getting to be really trouble. Seems that people have no conscience anymore. They do whatever they want, just to make a buck. There will be that day, that they will have to answer to a higher up, for all this. Thanks for bringing this one to our attention.
