Tom's of Maine Toothpaste Lawsuit: The $2.9M Settlement, Verified
An FDA inspection found bacteria-contaminated water and a 'black mold-like substance' at the plant making Tom's of Maine toothpaste - and a wave of class actions followed. They settled for $2.9 million. The claim deadline (July 6, 2026) has passed; the final approval hearing is set for September 10, 2026; no payments have been issued yet. Here is the verified record.
Revisado Editorialmente — Contenido revisado en cuanto a exactitud utilizando investigación legal publicada, datos gubernamentales y registros judiciales verificados. Vea nuestra metodología
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the FDA Found and the Suits Alleged
After a May 2024 inspection of the Sanford, Maine plant, the FDA's November 5, 2024 warning letter described water contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (also found in a batch of Simply White Clean Mint paste), Paracoccus yeei in a batch of the children's 'Wicked Cool!' paste, a black mold-like substance near product-contact equipment, and hundreds of consumer complaints about odor, color and taste that were never adequately investigated. Plaintiffs' claim is economic: buyers paid a premium for 'natural', safe toothpaste they would not have bought had the conditions been disclosed. No recall was issued and no injuries were proven. A separate February 2025 line of suits alleged lead and arsenic in kids' varieties.
Case Details
Settled as Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., E.D.N.Y. No. 2:25-cv-06996-JMW, consolidating suits from Florida, California and New York (first filed: Denny v. Colgate-Palmolive, M.D. Fla., November 21, 2024). Administrator: Epiq, official site ToothpasteSettlement.com. Class period: November 21, 2020 - March 6, 2026.
Status: Claims Closed - Final Approval Hearing September 10, 2026
Who Was Covered - and Who Can't File Now
All U.S. purchasers of any Tom's of Maine toothpaste for personal or household use between November 21, 2020 and March 6, 2026 - the whole line, including kids' varieties. Without proof of purchase: one refund of the average retail price (about $5-7) per household. With receipts: a full refund for up to three products per household. The window closed July 6, 2026 - late claims are not accepted, and any site offering to file one now is not the administrator.
What Claimants Can Expect
Tom's of Maine Case Timeline
- 1
May 2024 — FDA Inspects the Sanford, Maine Plant
Inspectors sample water and finished product; findings go to the company.
- 2
November 5, 2024 — FDA Warning Letter
Bacteria in water and product batches, mold-like substance, uninvestigated complaints. No recall ordered.
- 3
November 2024 - March 2025 — Class Actions Pile Up
Suits in Florida, California and New York over contamination; separate suits allege lead/arsenic in kids' toothpaste.
- 4
March 6, 2026 — $2.9M Settlement, Preliminary Approval
E.D.N.Y. approves notice to a nationwide class (purchases back to November 2020).
- 5
July 6, 2026 — Claim Deadline (Passed)
Claims, opt-outs and objections close.
- 6
September 10, 2026 — Final Approval Hearing
11:00 a.m. ET. Payments follow approval plus any appeal window.
Watch Out For
Three confusions circulating on this case:
'Claims still open' aggregators
Several sites still imply you can file. The deadline was July 6, 2026; only ToothpasteSettlement.com (Epiq) was ever the official channel.
'Recalled toothpaste refund' framing
There was never a recall. Pages promising 'recall refunds' are describing something that does not exist.
Mixing in the lead/arsenic suits
The February 2025 kids'-toothpaste lead claims are separate litigation - partially dismissed per reporting - and are not what the $2.9M settlement pays for.
Tom's of Maine Settlement - FAQ
Can I still file a Tom's of Maine settlement claim?
No. The deadline was July 6, 2026. If you filed in time, you wait for the September 10, 2026 final approval hearing and any appeals.
How much does the Tom's of Maine settlement pay?
About $5-7 (one average-priced tube) per household without receipts, or a full refund for up to three products with proof of purchase - pro-rated if claims exceed the $2.9M fund.
Was Tom's of Maine toothpaste recalled?
No. The FDA issued a warning letter about plant conditions in November 2024 but never ordered a recall, and the products stayed on shelves.
Is Tom's of Maine toothpaste safe to use?
The FDA letter concerned manufacturing conditions, and the company committed to remediation. The settlement makes no safety finding either way - it refunds purchases. For health questions, the FDA's letter and your dentist beat any settlement page.
When will settlement payments arrive?
After the September 10, 2026 final approval hearing and any appeals - realistically late 2026 at the earliest.
What about the lead and arsenic claims in kids' toothpaste?
Those are separate suits filed February 2025, reported as partially dismissed; they are not part of the $2.9M settlement and have produced no consumer fund.
Who actually pays the $2.9M?
Defendants Tom's of Maine and parent Colgate-Palmolive fund the settlement; both deny wrongdoing. Court-approved fees and administration come out of the fund first.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.