There are reports that the chemical triclosan is linked with the growth of cancerous cells and disrupted development in animals. Triclosan is used in Colgate's Total toothpaste and some fear that this can hurt the product's sales. Wal-Mart ( WMT ) is considering taking Colgate Total off its shelves. However it is worth noting that Colgate's Total toothpaste was approved by the FDA through a very rigorous process in 1997 as an over-the-counter drug. This issue is complicated since there are many studies that consider triclosan unsafe and there are others that consider triclosan a safe and effective tool in fighting oral hygiene problems. Triclosan is used in many consumer products including soaps and deodorants. Colgate's R&D has proven to be successful in introducing products to support oral hygiene and this capability is expected to continue as the company produces leading oral hygiene products in the future that will help Colgate to remain the dominant player in the industry.