According to the Food and Drug Administration the testing had found the chemical in a product with the Colgate label but it is not yet sure if the product belongs to Colgate or a counterfeit.
"We are aware that toothpaste is something that's been counterfeited in the past," AP quotes FDA as saying, "We don't want to alarm people unnecessarily."
There is speculation that the toothpaste may contain diethylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze. The toothpaste, imported from South Africa, was sold in discount stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
It also has the label "Made in South Africa" printed on the box and includes Regular, Gel, Triple and Herbal versions. The problem came into picture in routine testing by the Food and Drug Administration and the same chemical has led to the recall of several brands of toothpaste imported from China in recent weeks.
However, no illnesses have been reported so far. The FDA warns that the consumers who have purchased the 5-ounce toothpaste under the Colgate label can return them to their place of purchase for a refund.
