The expression “You get what you pay for” implies all inexpensively priced products lack quality, but many Woodland Park shoppers probably would disagree. Why pay more for a product that accomplishes the same task as a more expensive brand? Manufacturers are responsible for making and selling products that are safe whether or not items are sold at a discount.
A woman in a neighboring state bought a tube of toothpaste at a discount store. The label said “Colgate,” but what was inside was nothing like the brand she assumed it was. The shopper used the product and was hospitalized several days for treatment of inflammation of her esophagus, gastrointestinal tract and colon among other health problems.
Lab tests results showed the toothpaste contained diethylene glycol. According to the National Institutes of Health, diethylene glycol is an ingredient used in many industrial products that is not meant for human consumption. Despite its apparent sweet taste, diethylene glycol is a poisonous liquid additive that can kill.
The victim recently settled a product liability case against Dollar Worth and distributor MS USA Trading Inc. Colgate-Palmolive originally was named in the $2 million claim filed four years ago, but a judge determined Colgate wasn’t liable for the contents of a counterfeit product. The 78-year-old plaintiff agreed to settle for $95,000.
During a deposition leading up to the trial, a Colgate official verified the woman used a knock off toothpaste. The toothpaste tube and font used on the label had significant differences from the real thing, although the similarity was close enough to fool the store and a customer. A manager from Dollar Worth admitted the store purchased the close-out item from an unidentified third-party, without checking whether the toothpaste was an authentic Colgate product.
Manufacturers and every company involved in design, production or distribution may be held accountable for placing a dangerous product in New Jersey consumers’ hands.
Source:Â Staten Island Advance, “Reason to smile: Senior gets $95,000 settlement in bogus-toothpaste lawsuit” Frank Donnelly, Jun. 13, 2014
