The case of the counterfeit Colgate toothpaste spread to Mozambique this weekend after authorities there seized thousands of tubes over fears they may contain a potentially deadly chemical.

The health ministry banned all sales of the counterfeit "Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection" toothpaste and ordered storekeepers to remove it from their shelves, state radio said Sunday.

The fake toothpaste — which has been sold by discount retailers in a number of countries including Canada and the United States — contains diethylene glycol, or DEG, a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze that can damage the kidneys and liver and cause death.

Tubes found in the capital Maputo claimed to be manufactured in South Africa, but were betrayed by the expiry dates on the packages, such as July 32, 2008, and June 34, 2009. Similar counterfeit products found in Canada and the United States included misspellings such as "South Afrlca," and "South African Dental Assoxiation."

In June, Health Canada issued a warning about a product falsely labelled as "Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection." Tests showed it contained potentially harmful bacteria that could pose a serious health risk, particularly in children or those with compromised immune systems.

Similar cases have also been discovered in Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, leading to a recall by a New Jersey distributor on June 13.

Although the origin of the toothpaste is unknown, Chinese-made toothpaste has been banned by numerous countries in North and South America and Asia for containing DEG.

Last month, China banned the use of the toxic chemical in toothpaste, apparently motivated by international scrutiny regarding the safety of imported Chinese products.

With files from the Associated Press