The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public warning about the circulation of counterfeit Colgate toothpaste in parts of Nigeria.
According to the agency, the alert followed a complaint received by its Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate regarding suspicious toothpaste products being sold in Kaduna State. Subsequent inspections uncovered fake items labelled “Coglaet ActivGel 100g” and “Coglaet Herbal 100g” at a retail outlet. The shop owner reportedly sourced the products from a door-to-door vendor but could not provide any purchase documentation.
NAFDAC stated that the counterfeit products—also identified as “Coglaet Crema Dental Herbal 100g” and “Coglaet ActivGel 100g”—are unregistered and have not passed mandatory quality and safety checks, posing potential health risks to consumers. The agency highlighted key red flags, including the absence of batch numbers and NAFDAC registration details.
The fake toothpaste is said to carry labels claiming manufacture by a Chinese company in Guangzhou, with production dates of August 2025 and expiry dates of August 2029.
While the seized products have been removed from circulation, NAFDAC confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible. It has also directed its officials nationwide to intensify market surveillance to ensure full withdrawal of the counterfeit items.
Consumers, distributors, and retailers are advised to remain cautious and verify product authenticity before purchase or use. Suspected fake or substandard products should be reported to the nearest NAFDAC office or through official channels.