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Public advisory

Archived – Toothbrushes Pulled From Shelves Due to Potential Choking Risk

Starting date:: July 18, 2008
Posting date:: July 18, 2008
Type of communication:: Advisory
Subcategory:: Household Items
Source of recall:: Health Canada
Issue:: Product Safety, Physical Hazard, Quality
Audience:: General Public
Identification number:: RA-110002250

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Health Canada is advising Canadian retailers not to sell and consumers not to use manual toothbrushes labelled as Oral-B Classic 40 Medium, as they were found on the Canadian market and may pose harm to consumers. Health Canada has received one incident report of the bristles of the toothbrush, purchased at Dollarama L.P., becoming dislodged and stuck in the user's throat. The individual did not require medical care, but toothbrushes with bristles that are insufficiently fastened may present a choking hazard.

Procter & Gamble Inc., the manufacturer of Oral-B toothbrushes, has collaborated with Health Canada, and has examined samples of manual toothbrushes labelled as Oral-B Classic 40 Medium. Procter & Gamble Inc. has advised Health Canada that the toothbrush is a counterfeit product and they have not manufactured the Oral-B Classic 40 Medium manual toothbrushes worldwide in almost a decade.

Health Canada has been working with Dollarama L.P. to ensure that these toothbrushes are removed from sale. Dollarama L.P. has voluntarily recalled all manual toothbrushes labelled as Oral-B Classic 40 Medium being sold at their stores throughout Canada. Health Canada advises any other retailers selling a manual toothbrush labelled as Oral-B Classic 40 Medium to remove this product from their shelves and contact Health Canada at the number below. Health Canada is also taking action to prevent these toothbrushes from entering the Canadian market.

Consumers with a manual toothbrush labelled as an Oral-B Classic 40 Medium should stop using it immediately. These toothbrushes can be easily identified by the words Oral-B Classic 40 Medium printed on the packaging. Toothbrushes that have been removed from their packaging can be identified by the Oral-B logo present on the handle of the toothbrush, printed in silver text on a peel away label. The logo on a genuine Oral-B brush is embossed on the handle of the brush and is not printed on a peel away label.

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact Health Canada's public enquiries line at 613-957-2991, or toll free at
1-866-225-0709.

Any problem report involving this toothbrush can be reported to:
Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate
Health Canada
Address Locator: 2003D
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9

Tel: The Inspectorate Hotline: 1-800-267-9675