Archived – Counterfeit Toothbrushes Found on the Canadian Market

Starting date:

February 16, 2009

Posting date:

February 16, 2009

Type of communication:

Advisory

Subcategory:

Medical Device

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Physical Hazard, Product Safety

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-110003069

• Related AWRs
• Media enquiries
• Public enquiries
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Health Canada is advising Canadian consumers and retailers to exercise caution when purchasing toothbrushes. Counterfeit toothbrushes falsely labelled as Colgate Massager, Colgate Navigator, Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura and Colgate 360 have been found on the Canadian market.

Consumers who own these toothbrushes should verify the authenticity by using the pictures and descriptive text indicated below. If an imitation is suspected, consumers should stop using them immediately, as the quality, safety and effectiveness of counterfeit products cannot be assured. Retailers with stock purchased from the Canadian importer, AG Liquidation, should check products for authenticity and remove suspected counterfeit product from their shelves and contact Health Canada at the number below.

Health Canada previously issued a public advisory on July 18, 2008, for a counterfeit Oral B Classic 40 toothbrush: Toothbrushes Pulled from Shelves Due to Potential Choking Risk. Health Canada has received one incident report of the bristles of the Oral B Classic 40 becoming dislodged and caught in the user's throat. The individual did not require medical care. Toothbrushes with bristles that are insufficiently fastened may present a choking hazard.

Procter and Gamble Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc., have collaborated with Health Canada and confirmed that these products are counterfeit. Genuine Colgate toothbrushes can be identified by the packaging which is bilingual, in English and French only, and states "Distr. by/par: Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc.", and by a lot code moulded into the brush handle just under the brush head. Genuine Oral B toothbrushes can be identified by the Oral B logo manufactured as part of the handle mould. Counterfeit Oral B toothbrushes have been known to have the logo printed in silver text on a peel away label as shown in the illustrations below.

Health Canada has been working with AG Liquidation to ensure that the counterfeit toothbrushes are removed from sale. AG Liquidation has voluntarily recalled all manual toothbrushes that have been labelled as Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura, Colgate 360, Colgate Navigator, and Colgate Massager that are being sold throughout Canada. Health Canada is also taking action to prevent these counterfeit toothbrushes from entering the Canadian market. Health Canada is collaborating with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Any problem report involving this toothbrush can be reported to:
Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate
HEALTH CANADA
Address Locator: 2003D
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
Tel: The Inspectorate Hotline 1-800-267-9675
 

Related AWRs

Colgate Motion Electric Toothbrush Recall

2011-11-02 | Consumer products

Advisory

Archived – Toothbrushes Pulled From Shelves Due to Potential Choking Risk

2008-07-18 | Consumer products

Advisory

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

Images

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