Colgate-Palmolive’s $2.9M Tom’s of Maine Settlement Pays Out No Receipt Required July 6 is Last Deadline to File Claim 

The Tom’s of Maine toothpaste settlement is a false advertising class action where U.S. consumers who purchased any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste between November 21, 2020 and March 6, 2026 can receive a cash payment — with or without a receipt — by filing a claim at ToothpasteSettlement.com before July 6, 2026. Colgate-Palmolive has agreed to pay $2.9 million to resolve the allegations, though the company denies any wrongdoing.

Quick Facts: Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive, Case No. 2:25-cv-06996

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$2,900,000
Claim Deadline	July 6, 2026
Who Qualifies	U.S. buyers of any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, Nov. 21, 2020 – March 6, 2026
Payout (No Proof)	Average MSRP of one Tom’s product (~$5.99) per household
Payout (With Proof)	Full refund for up to 3 products
Proof Required	No — optional but increases payout
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved March 6, 2026
Court	U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Administrator	Epiq Global — ToothpasteSettlement.com
Final Approval Hearing	September 10, 2026
Last Updated	May 16, 2026

Current Status of the Colgate-Palmolive Settlement

The court must decide whether to approve the settlement, and no settlement benefits will be provided unless it does. Here is where things stand right now:

• The settlement received preliminary approval on March 6, 2026 — the claim portal is live and accepting submissions.
• The opt-out and objection deadline is July 6, 2026 — the same day claims are due.
• The settlement administrator will issue payments approximately 60 days after the court grants final approval at the September 10, 2026 hearing, assuming no appeals.

What Is the Tom’s of Maine Lawsuit About? Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al., No. 2:25-cv-06996

The lawsuit stems from a May 2024 inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility in Sanford, Maine, where FDA inspectors found what they described as a “black mold-like substance” and “powder residues” near a batch of Tom’s Silly Strawberry Anticavity toothpaste. The FDA concluded the facility was not meeting its Current Good Manufacturing Processes (CGMPs) — the federal standard that governs how consumer health products must be produced.

The class action lawsuit alleged that the company misled and deceived consumers with regard to its manufacturing, advertising, and sale of Tom’s toothpaste. The core issue is that Tom’s built its entire brand around being a “natural” and trustworthy alternative — and consumers paid a premium for that promise. The alleged violations touch on consumer protection statutes across multiple states, with six separate lawsuits consolidated before Judge James M. Wicks in the Eastern District of New York.

If you’re familiar with broader consumer fraud lawsuits in the personal care space, this case follows a pattern seen in other false advertising class action settlements covered on AllAboutLawyer.com — where the gap between a brand’s marketing claims and its actual production practices forms the legal basis for the class. An internal company review of approximately 4,900 finished toothpaste batches found no safety risk to consumers, according to the defendants. Both companies deny all wrongdoing.

Related article: Trader Joe’s French Roast Low Acid Coffee Class Action, Were You Drinking Half-Caff Without Knowing?

Do You Qualify for the Tom’s of Maine Settlement Payment?

All purchasers within the United States who, between November 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026, purchased for use and not for resale one or more Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products can file a claim. If you or anyone in your household regularly buys Tom’s toothpaste at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Walgreens, CVS, or Amazon — you almost certainly qualify.

You may qualify for this settlement if:

• You bought any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste product (any flavor, any size) in the U.S.
• Your purchase happened between November 21, 2020 and March 6, 2026
• You bought it for personal use — not for a business, resale, or distribution

You do NOT qualify if:

• You are an officer, director, or employee of Tom’s of Maine or Colgate-Palmolive
• You purchased the toothpaste for resale or commercial purposes
• You already submitted a written opt-out request before July 6, 2026

One important note: each household is limited to one claim. If multiple people in your home bought Tom’s toothpaste, you still file a single claim per address.

If you want to check whether you’re part of a broader set of Colgate-Palmolive class action settlement eligibility cases, including the separate $332 million pension settlement for former employees, see our full Colgate class action overview on AllAboutLawyer.com.

How Much Will You Get From This Settlement?

Your legal settlement payout depends entirely on whether you can document your purchase. Here are the two tiers:

Without proof of purchase — you receive the average manufacturer’s suggested retail price for one Tom’s of Maine toothpaste product per household. That works out to approximately $5.99 based on current retail pricing, and all you need is an attestation that you made a qualifying purchase. No receipt. No loyalty card. Just your word under penalty of perjury.

With proof of purchase — you can claim a full refund for up to three Tom’s products. Acceptable proof includes a receipt, invoice, or loyalty card record. If you have an Amazon order history, a Whole Foods app receipt, or a Walgreens loyalty record showing a Tom’s toothpaste purchase, that counts.

One thing to understand about class action settlement eligibility: if the total value of all approved claims exceeds the available settlement funds, payments will be reduced on a pro rata basis. The sooner you file, the better — not because late claims are rejected, but because a high volume of claims can reduce individual payouts.

How to File Your Tom’s of Maine Claim — Step by Step

This process takes about five minutes. Here is exactly what to do:

Step 1 — Visit the official claim portal at ToothpasteSettlement.com

Step 2 — Enter your name, address, and contact details

Step 3 — Choose your claim type: with or without proof of purchase

Step 4 — If filing with proof, upload your receipt, loyalty card record, or order confirmation

Step 5 — Select your preferred payment method: PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a mailed check

Step 6 — Submit your claim and save your confirmation number

You can also mail a paper claim form to: Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., et al., Class Administrator, P.O. Box 2897, Portland, OR 97208-2897. Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by July 6, 2026. Questions? Call 1-877-315-6779 or email [email protected].

Estimated time to complete: 5 minutes.

Key Dates in the Tom’s of Maine Settlement

Milestone	Date
FDA Inspection of Sanford Facility	May 2024
First Lawsuit Filed	December 2024
Preliminary Court Approval	March 6, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	July 6, 2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	July 6, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	September 10, 2026
Expected Payment Date	TBD — approximately 60 days after final approval, if no appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Tom’s of Maine and Colgate?

 Yes. Six separate lawsuits were filed against Tom’s of Maine and Colgate-Palmolive and consolidated into a single class action, Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al., No. 2:25-cv-6996, in the Eastern District of New York. A $2.9 million settlement has been proposed and received preliminary approval.

Can I really file without a receipt?

 Yes. No proof of purchase is required — you can submit a claim based on your sworn attestation that you made a qualifying purchase. You’ll receive the average retail price for one product per household without documentation.

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. The claim form at ToothpasteSettlement.com takes minutes to complete on your own at no cost. Class counsel — the Wright Law Office P.A., Denlea & Carton LLP, and Wilshire Law Firm PLC — represents the class at no charge to individual members. You only need a private attorney if you want to pursue an individual lawsuit instead.

How to file a Tom’s of Maine settlement claim if I missed the deadline?

 Courts rarely reopen claim periods after they close. If you miss July 6, 2026, you will not receive a payment and will remain legally bound by the settlement — losing your right to sue separately. File before the deadline.

When will I receive my Tom’s of Maine settlement check?

 Payments will go out after the September 10, 2026 Final Approval Hearing and after any appeals are resolved. Check ToothpasteSettlement.com for updates after the hearing.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Settlement payments for consumer product refunds are typically treated as a return of purchase price and are generally not taxable income. Consult a tax professional if your payout is substantial or your situation is complex.

Does this cover Tom’s of Maine deodorant or soap? 

No. This settlement covers toothpaste products only — Tom’s of Maine deodorant, bar soap, mouthwash, and other personal care products are not included in the class, regardless of when you purchased them.

What if I think my child was harmed by a Tom’s product?

 This settlement resolves claims about manufacturing practices and marketing — not personal injury. If you believe your family experienced health effects, consult a product liability attorney about options outside this settlement before the opt-out deadline of July 6, 2026.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Website: ToothpasteSettlement.com (court-authorized)
• Court Docket: Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al., No. 2:25-cv-06996 (JMW), U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official settlement website at ToothpasteSettlement.com and the court-authorized class notice filed April 2026. Last Updated: May 16, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.