Attorney General Madigan Warns of Tainted Toothpaste Discovered in Illinois Investigators Find Hundreds of Tubes For Sale in Low End Discount Stores Chicago - Attorney General Lisa Madigan warned Illinois consumers today of possibly counterfeit toothpaste that has made its way to Illinois store shelves.   The counterfeit product, falsely labeled as “Colgate,” may not contain fluoride and may contain diethylene glycol (DEG), a chemical used in anti-freeze that can cause serious health risks including liver and kidney damage and death.  A day-long sweep in Chicago neighborhoods, ordered by Attorney General Madigan, has turned up more than 483 tubes of suspect toothpaste on store shelves.  The majority of the toothpaste turned up at low end discount stores, increasing the health risks to underserved neighborhoods. “Our number one goal is to get this product off store shelves and give consumers information to protect themselves and their families,” said Attorney General Madigan.  “It is outrageous to learn that a product we use to maintain healthy teeth could actually be dangerous to our health.” The potentially toxic toothpaste is a counterfeit product and can be identified from its packaging, which indicates it was manufactured in South Africa.  Consumers, especially those who purchase toothpaste at low end discount stores, should closely examine their toothpaste tubes and should immediately stop using any tubes that claim to have been manufactured in South Africa. Consumers can visit the Attorney General’s Web site at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov to access photos of the counterfeit product. For the rest of this article please visit www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov. Contact a Local Dentist to learn more about how to maintain your oral heath!