Tom’s of Maine class action alleges toothpaste is contaminated with mold, bacteria

Tom’s of Maine class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Yolanda Pitre filed a class action lawsuit against Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Tom’s of Maine Inc.
• Why: Pitre claims the companies falsely advertised Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products as safe and healthy when they were actually contaminated with mold and bacteria.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

Tom’s of Maine falsely advertised its toothpaste products as safe, healthy, natural and effective when they were actually contaminated with mold and bacteria, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff Yolanda Pitre claims Tom’s of Maine’s Simply White Mint Paste, Wicked Cool! Anticavity Toothpaste, and Silly Strawberry Anticavity toothpaste products, were found to contain three types of harmful bacteria: Paracoccus yeei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia insidiosa.

Pitre argues Tom’s of Maine knew the toothpastes were contaminated with the harmful mold and disease-causing bacteria, despite advertising them as natural and safe.

“Contrary to Defendants’ express warranties, the products did not conform to the advertised representations. Specifically, the products were unsafe, unnatural, and unhealthy,” the Tom’s of Maine class action says. 

Pitre wants to represent a nationwide class and California subclass of consumers who bought Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products in the past three years.

FDA found mold, bacteria at Tom’s of Maine toothpaste facility, class action says

Pitre claims the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter in November 2024 that detailed the presence of mold and bacteria found at Tom’s of Maine’s manufacturing facility in Sanford, Maine.

The agency found black mold-like substances and powder residues at the facility and noted the company had failed to adequately investigate consumer complaints or test the quality of water used in production, according to the Tom’s of Maine class action. 

Pitre argues that, despite the FDA’s findings, Tom’s of Maine continued to sell the contaminated toothpaste products without informing consumers.

As a result, consumers were misled into paying a premium for products they believed were safe and natural, the Tom’s of Maine class action alleges. 

Pitre claims Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine are guilty of intentional and negligent misrepresentation and breach of warranty and in violation of California consumer protection laws. 

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of statutory damages for herself and all class members. 

A consumer filed a separate class action lawsuit against Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine earlier this year over claims the companies failed to warn consumers that their Tom’s of Maine Kid’s Natural Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Silly Strawberry product was contaminated with unsafe levels of lead and arsenic.

Have you purchased Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Thiago M. Coelho, Shahin Rezvani, Chumahan B. Bowen, Jennifer M. Leinbach and Reuben Aguirre of Wilshire Law Firm PLC.

The Tom’s of Maine class action lawsuit is Pitre, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-09318, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Massive drug safety recall includes generic Advil, Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, Onglyza, and dozens more
• Amazon class action over delivery fees dismissed
• The M Jewelers class action alleges company uses fake discounts
• Inno Supps class action claims company uses fake discounts, auto-renewal schemes