Health Canada is warning Canadians not to buy Chinese toothpaste or counterfeit products sold falsely under the 'Colgate' brand name.

The organization has released two separate advisories to warn about the potentially harmful products.

Twenty-one Chinese toothpaste products found on the Canadian market have contained unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), says Health Canada.

"They are a significant risk," Health Canada spokesperson Jean Saint-Pierre told CTV Newsnet on Saturday.

DEG is a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze and as a solvent that can cause "nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, urinary problems, kidney failure, breathing problems, lethargy, convulsions, coma and even death when ingested."

If swallowed, the toothpaste could especially prove harmful in "vulnerable populations" such as children or consumers with kidney or liver disease.

Saint-Pierre also warned the products could have "a serious impact" on people with compromised or weakened immune systems.

Health Canada says the toothpastes are labelled primarily in Chinese and were found in Chinese markets and dollar stores across the country.

None have been approved for sale by Health Canada.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a similar warning. Following that, a customer alert was issued June 5, 2007 by Health Canada to the Canada Border Services Agency to stop shipments from China.

To date, no reports of any adverse reactions have been reported.

Counterfeit Colgate toothpaste

Health Canada is also warning that counterfeit toothpaste products, falsely labelled as Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Herbal and Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection, have been found to contain high levels of harmful bacteria.

"If anyone is to come across these products, we advise them not to use them, return them to retailers and contact us. They are significantly tainted with microbial contamination," said Saint-Pierre.

The products pose a "significant risk to health, especially to children and individuals with compromised immune systems."

The organization is assisting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in a criminal investigation.

Potential adverse effects that can occur if ingested are "fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Infants and children are more sensitive to these effects and severe vomiting and diarrhea could lead to potentially life-threatening dehydration."

The products were also found to contain a bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family, which is of particular concern to patients hospitalized for severe underlying diseases or with compromised immune systems.

The products have been found for sale in the discount chain "Everything for a Dollar Store."

A third product labelled as Colgate, Flouride Toothpaste Gel, was also confirmed as counterfeit.

The Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection is labelled as "Manufactured in South Africa" and contains misspellings including "isclinically" "SOUTH AFRLCA" and "South African Dental Assoxiation".

Health Canada says genuine Colgate toothpaste approved for sale in Canada is safe and labelled in both English and French.