INDIA: Fake tubes, real danger: How toothpaste filled with low-grade chemicals put millions at risk in Delhi

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Fake tubes, real danger: How toothpaste filled with low-grade chemicals put millions at risk in Delhi

The tubes appeared genuine, complete with Sensodyne branding. But, they were filled with low-grade chemicals, blue bleaching agents and locally sourced fluoride mixtures.

MoneyControl - April 4, 2026

Hidden behind the locked doors of a nondescript unit in Delhi's Kanjhawala, the daily morning rituals of lakhs of Indians were quietly being put at risk. What appeared ordinary from the outside was, in reality, a counterfeit operation. As consumers used what they believed to be Sensodyne, the facility was churning out fake tubes filled with untested chemicals ready to be sold at nearby shops.

The tubes appeared genuine, complete with Sensodyne branding. But, they were filled with low-grade chemicals, blue bleaching agents and locally sourced fluoride mixtures.

The lid was blown off after Delhi Police, acting on a tip-off, busted the counterfeit toothpaste manufacturing unit operating in Kanjhawala area and arrested its owner on Friday. During the raid at a godown in Mahaveer Vihar, a team of Crime Branch officials seized a large quantity of fake toothpaste, empty tubes, packaging material, machines, adhesive tapes bearing the brand name, glue, heating guns and raw materials, an official told PTI.

"The seized goods were worth several lakhs and posed serious health risks due to unhygienic manufacturing conditions," a senior police officer said.

Police said they recovered around 1,800 filled fake toothpaste tubes, along with over 10,000 empty tubes and more than 1,200 packed tubes. Around 130 kg of blue-coloured paste stored in drums were also recovered.

According to the officer, six labourers were caught red-handed filling locally prepared paste into tubes of a reputed toothpaste brand during the raid."The labourers told police that the unit was run by one Hari Om Mishra, a resident of Rohini," he said. Mishra has been arrested.

DCP (Crime) Pankaj Kumar confirmed the material was inspected and found to contain unauthorised chemicals."The material inside the factory was inspected and it was confirmed that other chemicals are being used and toothpaste is being produced in highly unhygienic conditions, making it unfit for use. No valid documents, bills, licenses or authorisations were produced by the accused," Hindustan Times said in its report quoting Kumar.

The accused, police said, sourced cheap fluoride mixtures locally, filled and sealed them into Sensodyne-branded tubes, and distributed them to shops across Rohini, west Delhi and other nearby areas. The operation was small, cost-efficient and, until Thursday, had gone entirely unnoticed.


SOURCE:
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