June 14 (Bloomberg) -- Colgate-Palmolive Co., the world's biggest toothpaste maker, said counterfeit toothpaste that may contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze was found at stores in four U.S. states.
The goods, falsely packaged as Colgate, were discovered at several ``dollar-type'' discount stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, the company said today in a statement. New York-based Colgate is working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to identify the makers of the toothpaste, which may contain diethylene glycol, the company said.
The FDA issued an alert June 1 to keep toothpaste from China with diethylene glycol out of the U.S. after finding the substance in random samples. The agency warned consumers to avoid toothpaste labeled as made in China.
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One tube has tested positive for the chemical, FDA spokesman Doug Arbesfeld said in an interview. Two tubes tested negative, he said.
Diethylene glycol has similar properties to glycerin, an ingredient in toothpaste, FDA spokesman Arbesfeld said. Manufacturers of the counterfeit toothpaste probably used diethylene glycol because it is less expensive than glycerin, he said.
The substance, mixed with cough syrup, was responsible for almost two dozen deaths in Panama in October 2006, Arbesfeld said.
The distributor of the toothpaste, North Bergen, New Jersey-based MS USA Trading Inc., said no illnesses have been reported to date, according to a statement dated yesterday that was posted on the FDA's Web site. MS USA didn't return messages left on the company's voice mail.
Some of the packaging includes incorrect spellings such as ``isclinically,'' ``SOUTH AFRLCA'' and ``South African Dental Assoxiation,'' Colgate said.
Diethylene glycol can harm children and people with liver or kidney diseases, according to the FDA.
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