If you bought Tom’s of Maine toothpaste in the United States between November 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026, you may be eligible for a cash refund under a $2.9 million class action settlement with Colgate-Palmolive. The Tom’s of Maine lawsuit settlement, filed as Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Company in the Eastern District of New York, sets a claims deadline of July 6, 2026, with a final approval hearing on September 10, 2026.1Toothpaste Settlement. Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Settlement2GovInfo. Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al.
Who Qualifies as a Class Member
The settlement class covers anyone in the United States who purchased one or more Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products manufactured at the company’s Sanford, Maine, facility during the class period. That period runs from November 21, 2020, through March 6, 2026, the date Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks granted preliminary approval.1Toothpaste Settlement. Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Settlement2GovInfo. Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al.
Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine deny all allegations of wrongdoing. They specifically deny violating any law or making any misrepresentation, and say they agreed to the settlement to avoid the costs and risks of continued litigation.3PR Newswire. Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste Class Action Settlement Notice
How Much You Can Get
Payments are calculated as refunds at the average manufacturer’s suggested retail price for Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. Two claim tiers are available:
- With proof of purchase (a receipt, order confirmation, or similar record), you can claim a full refund on up to three products per household.
- Without proof of purchase, you can claim a refund for one product per household.
If approved claims exceed the money left in the fund after fees and costs, individual payments will be reduced on a pro rata basis.4ClassAction.org. $2.9M Tom’s Toothpaste Settlement Ends Class Action Over Alleged Product Contamination5Toothpaste Settlement FAQ. Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Settlement FAQ
The $2.9 million fund also pays other costs before claimants receive money. Class counsel may request attorneys’ fees of up to one-third of the fund, or roughly $957,000, plus litigation expenses. Each named plaintiff can receive a service award of up to $1,000. Settlement administration costs also come out of the fund.6Claim Depot. Tom’s Toothpaste Settlement7Toothpaste Settlement. Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Long Form Notice
How to File a Claim
You have three ways to submit a claim, and all of them must be completed by July 6, 2026:
- Online at toothpastesettlement.com.
- By mail to the claims administrator, Epiq, at P.O. Box 2897, Portland, OR 97208-2897.
- By requesting a paper form at 1-877-315-6779.
If you have proof of purchase, upload or include copies with your claim to qualify for the three-product tier. Without documentation, you’ll be limited to the single-product tier.5Toothpaste Settlement FAQ. Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Settlement FAQ
What Happens If You Do Nothing, Opt Out, or Object
Doing nothing has consequences. Class members who don’t act will still be bound by the settlement, will release their claims against Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine, and will receive no payment.3PR Newswire. Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste Class Action Settlement Notice
Opting out means you’ll receive nothing from this settlement but keep the right to sue Colgate-Palmolive or Tom’s of Maine independently over these claims. Objections must be filed in writing with the court by July 6, 2026. Objectors may also appear at the final approval hearing to explain their concerns.5Toothpaste Settlement FAQ. Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Settlement FAQ
When Payments Will Be Issued
The final approval hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Central Islip Courthouse in New York. No payments will be issued until the court grants final approval. If the court approves the settlement without appeals, checks are typically distributed after that date and after claims processing is complete.2GovInfo. Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al.
Why the Settlement Exists
The case grew out of a Food and Drug Administration inspection of the Sanford, Maine, plant conducted from May 7 to May 22, 2024. Inspectors found several bacteria in the facility’s water system and finished products. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which the FDA classifies as an objectionable microorganism in non-sterile drug products, was detected in water samples used to rinse equipment and to manufacture Tom’s Simply White Clean Mint Paste. A second bacterium, Ralstonia insidiosa, was found in water at points of use in quantities the FDA described as “too numerous to count.” A third organism, Paracoccus yeei, was recovered from a finished batch of Wicked Cool! Anticavity Toothpaste, a children’s product.8FDA. Colgate-Palmolive/Tom’s of Maine Warning Letter
Inspectors also observed a “black mold-like substance” in damp areas near production equipment, including behind a water storage tank and at the base of a hose reel.9CNN. Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste Bacteria Mold FDA8FDA. Colgate-Palmolive/Tom’s of Maine Warning Letter10Today. Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste Bacteria
Six related consumer suits were consolidated into Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-06996, on December 19, 2025. The plaintiffs allege the company marketed its toothpaste as “safe,” “natural,” and “naturally sourced” while manufacturing it in a contaminated facility.11CaseMine. Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al.12ClassAction.org. Denny v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Class Action Complaint
Other Tom’s of Maine Lawsuits Not Covered
Two other pending lawsuits against Tom’s of Maine are proceeding separately and are not resolved by this settlement. Filing a claim here will not affect them, and they will not send you a check.
White v. Tom’s of Maine, Inc. (Case No. 1:25-cv-00662), filed February 6, 2025, in the Eastern District of New York, alleges that Tom’s of Maine Kid’s Natural Fluoride-Free Toothpaste in Silly Strawberry flavor contains unsafe levels of lead and arsenic based on independent testing by Lead Safe Mama. The court denied Tom’s of Maine’s motion to dismiss in early 2026, and the case remains ongoing.13ClassAction.org. Tom’s of Maine Lawsuit Claims Kids Toothpaste Contaminated With Lead, Arsenic14The Ad Standard. White v. Tom’s of Maine Motion to Dismiss Denied
Clayborne et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al. (Case No. 1:25-cv-04877), filed May 2, 2025, in the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Colgate and Tom’s of Maine depict full strips of toothpaste on packaging and in advertising, an amount the plaintiffs say is eight to ten times what is recommended for children under three, and that candy flavors and cartoon imagery encourage children to swallow it. The case seeks to represent consumers in 14 states and Washington, D.C.15ClassAction.org. Colgate, Tom’s of Maine Lawsuit Claims Kids Fluoride Toothpastes Deceptively Marketed
If you believe you have a claim tied to either of those matters rather than the manufacturing contamination case, filing in Rabinowitz won’t preserve it. Opting out of this settlement, or consulting a lawyer about the other cases directly, would.