Update: Counterfeit Toothpaste Falsely Labeled as 'Colgate'

NEW YORK, June 15  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Colgate-Palmolive announced today additional developments and actions by the Company to protect consumers against possible risk from recently reported counterfeit toothpaste. The Company yesterday warned consumers that the counterfeit toothpaste, which has been found in some small, independent dollar-type discount stores, may not contain fluoride and could contain Diethylene Glycol, an ingredient not used in Colgate toothpaste anywhere in the world.

  The additional developments and actions taken by the Company include:

  -- Colgate is contacting all its accounts handling Colgate toothpaste in
     the U.S. to ensure that they have no counterfeit product. At this time,
     none have reported counterfeit product. If any accounts were to
     identify suspected counterfeit product, the Company would remove it
     from the shelf.
  -- The Company is in the process of picking up suspected counterfeit
     product in the small, independent dollar-type discount stores in the
     four states where it has reportedly been distributed. Results of these
     efforts will be provided to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  -- FDA spokesman Doug Arbesfeld was quoted in various news reports saying
     in reference to the Diethylene Glycol found by the FDA in some
     counterfeit samples, "It's a low health risk but the bottom line is, it
     doesn't belong in toothpaste."  Analysis performed by Colgate Research
     & Development of counterfeit samples received so far has come to this
     same conclusion regarding the low level of health risk.
  -- The Company has further clarified the distinguishing characteristics of
     the counterfeit product. It comes labeled as a 5 ounce or 100 ml tube,
     a size not made or sold by Colgate in the United States. Consumers can
     identify the counterfeit product by the words on the package,
     "Manufactured in South Africa" as well as there may be several
     misspelled words on the product carton including: "isclinically",
     "SOUTH AFRLCA" and "South African Dental Assoxiation." Colgate does not
     import toothpaste into the U.S. from South Africa.
  -- Building on Colgate's long standing relationship with the American
     Dental Association and American Dental Hygienists Association, the
     Company will be providing information about the counterfeit product to
     over 50,000 dental professionals to assist them in answering patient
     questions.
  -- Colgate is providing additional representatives on its consumer
     information line (1-800-468-6502), extending their hours of operation,
     adding operations this weekend, and taking other steps to answer
     consumer questions about counterfeit product. Colgate is arranging for
     callers to provide it with any suspect counterfeit products and
     information about the purchase location.



Colgate Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Reuben Mark said, "We are all highly committed to reliability, quality and superior product performance.  We will spare no effort to help consumers avoid counterfeits and support regulators in their efforts to remove these products from the marketplace."

About Colgate-Palmolive: Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products Company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition.  Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Tom's of Maine, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.  For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's web site at http://www.colgate.com/.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements.  Such statements may relate, for example, to sales or volume growth, profit growth, earnings growth, financial goals, cost-reduction plans, estimated charges and savings associated with the 2004 Restructuring Program and new product introductions.  These statements are made on the basis of our views and assumptions as of this time and we undertake no obligation to update these statements.  We caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual events or results may differ materially from those statements.  Investors should consult the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006) for information about factors that could cause such differences.  Copies of these filings may be obtained upon request from the Company's Investor Relations Department or the Company's web site at http://www.colgate.com/. 

DATASOURCE: Colgate-Palmolive



CONTACT: Allison Klimerman, [phone], Tom Paolella,

[phone], both of Colgate-Palmolive 



Web site: http://www.colgate.com/ 

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