Colgate ingredients: what's banned overseas?

About Colgate

Colgate-Palmolive's flagship toothpaste brand has faced significant regulatory differences between US and EU versions. Colgate Total contained triclosan — an antimicrobial agent — in the US until 2019 when the FDA began restricting it in consumer products. Triclosan was banned in EU cosmetics in 2014. Current Colgate products in the US use titanium dioxide and sodium laureth sulfate formulations that differ from European counterparts.

Common concerns with Colgate products

{"ingredient_slug":"titanium-dioxide","ingredient_name":"Titanium Dioxide","found_in_product":"Colgate Total, Colgate Optic White (US)","concern":"EU banned as food additive 2022. SCCS could not exclude genotoxicity for applications to mucous membranes. EU considering cosmetics restriction."}; {"ingredient_slug":"propylene-glycol","ingredient_name":"Propylene Glycol","found_in_product":"Colgate toothpaste (US)","concern":"Humectant and solvent. EU restricts in cosmetics at high concentrations."}; {"ingredient_slug":"sodium-benzoate","ingredient_name":"Sodium Benzoate","found_in_product":"Colgate Cavity Protection (US)","concern":"Preservative; forms benzene in presence of ascorbic acid in acidic conditions. Restricted in EU foods; cosmetics review ongoing."}