In the category of "always read the label". There has been an epidemic of fake toothpaste around the world containing harmful chemicals. As a rule, always try to buy from a reputable supplier or major chain and look at the packaging. Virtually all major brands of toothpaste sold in Canada are made here or the US and are packaged with english and french labels (without spelling errors on the package i.e. Colgate becomes Coigate).
The Globe and Mail had an excellent article on this, here's the teaser quote:
Health Canada is investigating suspected counterfeit toothpaste found in Southern Ontario that is similar to a product at the centre of a health recall throughout the United States because of fears it contains an ingredient used in antifreeze.
Steve Janke, 40, bought a tube of what purports to be Colgate brand toothpaste labelled as being manufactured in South Africa from a dollar store in Guelph, Ont.
The packaging was missing the French translation found on most Canadian products and the 100-millilitre tube was labelled as being manufactured by Colgate-Palmolive (PTY) Ltd. [CL-N] in South Africa.
You can read the rest of the article here: Tainted toothpaste sparks probe
Source: Globe and Mail Online, June 19, 2007
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070619.wcolgate19/BNStory/National/home
Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100
