Angry in the Great White North

Now I regret having tasted it.

Health Canada has released this warning with regards to counterfeit Colgate toothpaste found for sale in Canada:

Warning

Counterfeit Toothpaste Falsely Labelled as Colgate Found to Contain Harmful Bacteria

June 29, 2007
For immediate release

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning Canadians that counterfeit toothpaste products, falsely labelled as Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Herbal and Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection, have been found to contain high levels of harmful bacteria. These products have been found on the Canadian market and pose a significant risk to health, especially to children and individuals with compromised immune systems. Health Canada is assisting in the criminal investigation that is being conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Potential adverse effects of ingesting products that contain unacceptable amounts of aerobic bacteria include fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Infants and children are more sensitive to these effects and severe vomiting and diarrhea could lead to potentially life-threatening dehydration. While toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, it is often swallowed by young children.

These counterfeit products were also found to contain a type of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family, which is of particular concern in vulnerable populations such as patients hospitalized for severe underlying diseases or with compromised immune systems. In addition to gastrointestinal illnesses, infections can occur in the lungs and urinary tract, and can cause blood poisoning.

Consumers who have purchased one of these counterfeit toothpaste products are advised to discontinue use immediately. Consumers who have experienced any symptoms after using one of these products, or are concerned about their health, are advised to consult their physician immediately.

The counterfeit products are falsely labelled as Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Herbal and Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection marked as 100 ml. The Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection is labelled as "Manufactured in South Africa" and contains misspellings including "isclinically" "SOUTH AFRLCA" and "South African Dental Assoxiation". A third toothpaste, also falsely labelled as Colgate, Fluoride Toothpaste Gel, was confirmed to be counterfeit.

Genuine Colgate toothpaste approved for sale in Canada is safe and is labelled in English and French. Additionally, fluoride-containing toothpaste that has been approved for sale in Canada will contain either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) or a Natural Product Number (NPN). None of the three counterfeit brands of toothpaste have a DIN or NPN or have bilingual packaging.

These counterfeit toothpaste products have been found in the discount chain "Everything for a Dollar Store." Canadian distributors are cooperating in the investigation and have removed the product from their shelves.

Consumers who find a health product they believe to be counterfeit for sale in Canada should contact Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675.

Canadian consumers with questions on how to identify genuine Colgate toothpaste can contact Colgate Canada's consumer line at (1-800-268-6757) or visit www.colgate.ca.

Consumers are also advised to monitor the Health Canada website (www.healthcanada.gc.ca) for additional updates regarding this issue.

Thanks to my friend at the Globe and Mail for the heads up.

Two things come to mind immediately with this unexpected news of a serious bacterial contamination in what was previously suspected to be toothpaste tainted with diethylene glycol.

First, I am start to regret taste-testing the toothpaste tube I discovered. When I thought it was DEG, I wasn't too worried. The amount of DEG in a single taste of toothpaste would be minimal. But Enterobacteriaceae? I might have swallowed a small amount, but unlike DEG, bacteria is a living thing, and it grows. As Mrs Angry so wisely observes, "What are you? A moron?!"

Well, I didn't know it was a tube of bacteria, now did I? Stop lecturing me and tell me where the Imodium is.

Enterobacteriaceae is a large family of bacteria. Members of this family include such well known pathogens as Salmonella and E. Coli and Shigella dysenteriae (the last being the agent that causes dysentery). That's just great.

Second, this changes the complexion of the toothpaste story. Prior to this announcement, we were dealing with counterfeit toothpaste deliberately made with DEG in an attempt to cut costs, but with the expectation that no one would be harmed from exposure to the smallish amounts of diethylene glycol in a bead of toothpaste. Now we have to wonder just under what conditions this paste was made? Just how poor were the sanitary conditions in a factory devoted to making a health product that each tube is now filled with "high levels" of this menagerie of bacteria?

And what else was coming out of these factories?

Is this what we can expect to find in "Made in China" toothpastes of any brand, given the persistant suspicion that this "South African" toothpaste came from China? And if it didn't come from China, where did it come from, and what else came from there?

A criminal investigation is underway. This story isn't over yet.

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