In addition to the gray market dental products mentioned in a previous blog, like those that claim to be manufactured by 3M, counterfeit Colgate toothpaste was found earlier this year in many discount stores across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, according to a June press release by the FDA. The imitation product does not contain fluoride, but does contain the unlisted ingredient, diethylene glycol (DEG), a chemical used in antifreeze. The label on the toothpaste states that is is "manufactured in South Africa," and many of the packages have misspelled words. Compare the packaging on the at the Colgate site.
The Gray Blog reported in June that nearly one million tainted and counterfeit toothpaste packages were recalled in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Other effected locations include Puerto Rico, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Australia. The packages state that the products are made in China, and the FDA says that these counterfeits also contain diethylene glycol. In July, Health Canada reported finding high levels of bacteria in counterfeit toothpaste, as well. No related illnesses or deaths have been reported to date.
While this information is no longer "news," it does raise concerns regarding consumer safety. Knowledge is power, and you can pay a vital role in keeping your patients forewarned. As a dentist, you may want to warn your patients to:
Read toothpaste labels and consider misspellings a red flag
Don’t purchase toothpaste made in China or South Africa
Read a list of identified counterfeit brands here
Report findings of counterfeit dental products to the FDA