Fake Colgate toothpaste reported found in 4 states

Colgate-Palmolive Co. warned Thursday that counterfeit Colgate toothpaste that may contain a toxic chemical had been found in discount stores in four U.S. states.

“There are indications that this product does not contain fluoride and may contain diethylene glycol,” the company said of the toothpaste found in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Colgate-Palmolive said it did not use, nor had ever used, diethylene glycol as an ingredient in its toothpaste anywhere in the world. The chemical, also known as DEG and sometimes illegally used as an inexpensive sweetener and thickening agent, is commonly found in solvents and antifreeze.

The counterfeit toothpaste is labeled as being manufactured in South Africa but Colgate-Palmolive said it did not import toothpaste to the United States from South Africa. The packaging also contains several misspellings.

Colgate did not respond to an inquiry seeking details of which stores the counterfeit toothpaste was found in.

The Colgate announcement comes almost two weeks after the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to avoid any toothpaste made in China after inspectors found DEG in tubes sold at two stores.