Team DailyPedia
Colgate Total toothpaste is under scrutiny after being found with triclosan, an active ingredient used in soaps, detergents, toys, and surgical cleaning treatments. This chemical is also discovered to be linked to cancer cell growth and reduced fertility among animals.
Triclosan, according to Environmental Protection Agency, is an agent that “slows or stops the growth of bacteria, fungi, and mildew”.
Since it was first used in hand soaps in the 1970’s, this antimicrobial agent was then added in a number of consumer products such as detergents, soaps, skin cleansers, deodorants, lotions, creams, toothpastes, and dishwashing liquids. According to Business Insider, countless products with “antibacterial” label are more likely to contain triclosan or a related compound.
Triclosan in Colgate Total
Colgate Total was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1997. However, a study by Bloomberg found that “some of the scientific findings Colgate put forward to establish triclosan’s safety in toothpaste weren’t black and white”. It also showed fetal bone malformations in mice and rats.
In 2010, a study connected triclosan to lower the fertility in mice. Then, last year, another finding linked it to lesser sperm production in rats.
Despite all these, Colgate ignored the tests, stressing that they were not relevant. The company also backed up their product Total saying that the toothpaste’s authorization was founded with over 80 clinical studies involving 19,000 people, hence it’s safety and effectiveness.
Thomas DiPiazza, spokesman for Colgate says, “In the nearly 18 years that Colgate Total has been on the market in the US, there has been no signal of a safety issue from adverse-event reports.“
“Reviews by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the American Dental Association, and government agencies around the world confirm triclosan’s safe use in toothpaste and recognize that Colgate Total provides an important health benefit.”, as stated in Colgate website.
In a separate test, triclosan was found to lessen plaque, gingival bleeding and inflammation.
More Research Needed
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention fact sheet states that, “The human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of triclosan are unknown … More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to triclosan.”
According to FDA, the assessments and findings of the effects of triclosan in animals makes them consider running tests again.
Meanwhile, the company does not have any plans of reformulating Colgate Total.
