Is nothing Safe Any More
By deebomb
@deebomb (15304)
United States
June 14, 2007 10:05am CST
Are you in the habit of buying any of your product from the discount stores. I often do Colgate-Palmolive Co. on Thursday said counterfeit "Colgate" toothpaste may contain diethylene glycolI a product used in solvents and antifreeze. This tooth paste is very easy to spot since the product of %0z. has several misspelled words like Islclincally, South Afrlca, South African Dental Assoxiotion The counterfeit toothpaste was found in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. DEG-contaminated toothpaste has also been seized in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Nicaragua. It was found in cough syrup in Panama that led to the deaths of at least 100 people last year. Is it any wonder that we are dying of so many cancers? I may just start making my own.
3 people like this
4 responses
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
14 Jun 07
I've read about this before, it was in the news once too. I quit buying lots of things from the Dollar store just because of it. One would think that they'd have more safety in place on goods that are in our marketplace. It's horrible too that these things are going to third world countries and the effect it's having on them and their society. Anymore I read all of the ingredients lists for almost everything I buy. I have a lot of allergies and have to avoid specific things, but it's true that the misspelled words is a tip off that it might be a counterfeit product. Wouldn't you think that the FDA would be more involved? Talk about homeland security, lol, this is a weak link that needs more vigilance, to be sure!!
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
14 Jun 07
I read not too long ago that there just isn't enough inspecter at the ports of entry to really inspect these productes. Thosr that are caught are very low compared to what get through like the tainted dog food not long ago. we really need to tighten up the security of the food products that come into this country as well as what we produce. But if we do we will have to pay more for that security by higher prices for the products. The question is is the American public will ing to pay more.
2 people like this
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
15 Jun 07
It's a shame that most of security has been beefed up here, but nothing in the way of food safety. If ever there was a loophole to make thousands of people sick, it's in our food system. I grow most of my own food, and eat home raised beef, so I'm a lot safer than most people. I know most Americans would complain like heck if they had to start paying more to protect our food by hiring more inspectors, but when things like the pet food scare, toothpaste with harmful chemicals, and all that's happening, I don't see how we could NOT want to be safer. Unfortunately, it'll probably take some big food disaster affecting millions of people before people will start demanding more safety and regulations.
@CatNPK (461)
• United States
14 Jun 07
Colgate-Palmolive is a company to stay away from even if it's a genuine product. I try to avoid supporting companies that test cosmetics and dish soaps on animals, add lots of petroleum based ingredients in their products, and generally have ethics based on highest profit regardless of the human toll that make me want to cringe. My favorite "happy" lines of toothpaste include Tom's of Maine (usually one of the more affordable brands), Kiss My Face, Jason, and another I can't think of the name for. If you can't find organic toothpastes in your grocery store, look for them online. You will certainly pay more than at a discount store, but you'll get a better product. If you want to make them yourself to save money, that another great alternative (never tried it myself though).
2 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
16 Jun 07
Tom's of Maine (usually one of the more affordable brands), Kiss My Face, Jason, I have never heard of these tooth pastes. They cerntenly unusual names for tooth paste. I hadn't heard that about Colgate-Palmolive company. Thanks for dropping by and contributing this information.
@caribe (2465)
• United States
14 Jun 07
I am really concerned about this problem since I am living in Nicaragua and it is my understanding that glycerin is imported from China and at times it has been replaced with diethylen glycol because it is cheaper. I am not sure that Nicaragua has in place testing to be sure that they are getting what is on the label. I use Colgate toothpaste that is made in this country or Costa Rica. Right now I have Colgate toothpaste from the USA that my husband brought recently. I think I will be afraid of taking cough medicine in this country as well. I found one interesting news article that explained how this product gets into toothpaste and medicines. Here is a link to it. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/world/americas/06poison.html?ex=1337486400&en=e3228e6e5311fa0f&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg
2 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
14 Jun 07
Helloe carib. It's good to see you. Yes this is very scary. It's hard to believe that that poison got so far and not one buyer bothered to rest it. Every country should be testing for such poisons in everyhing that comes int to their countryy to keep their population safe. Thanks for finding and posting this link. It is very eye opening. Every one should be reading it.
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
14 Jun 07
What we need is to push the government to have many more inspecter of foods and products like this toothpast at the ports of entryy.. There is a lot od scary stuff coming into this countryy because there are not enough inspecters to catch thses things at the ports of entry..
2 people like this
