Spit, Don't Swallow

You may have heard about the [recall issued today] for about 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine toy trains sold in the United States and Canada. Well, it gets worse. Colgate-Palmolive has issued an immediate recall on 5-ounce tubes of toothpaste sold under its name in New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania and, yep, New York discount stores that it believes are [counterfeit and may contain poisonous](http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=colgate-warns-of-fake-too&chanID=sa003&modsrc=reuters) chemicals.

The FDA confirmed yesterday that tubes labeled “Colgate” had tested positive during routine inspection for a toxic chemical called [diethylene glycol (DEG)], which is typically found in solvents and antifreeze. Yum. However, the FDA [refused to confirm](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/14/health/main2926845.shtml) whether the tested tube was a real Colgate product or a fake. The company denies that it has ever used the chemical as an ingredient in its toothpastes and said the fakes can be recognized because they are labeled as being manufactured in South Africa, when in fact Colgate does not import toothpaste from South Africa to the United States. The packaging is also believed to contain several telltale misspellings absent from the real deal, including “SOUTH AFRLCA” and “Dental Assoxiation.”

Less than two weeks ago, the FDA issued a warning against all toothpastes produced in China after DEG was discovered in tubes being sold at two other stores.