$2.9M Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste Settlement, Did You Buy It Since 2020? Here’s How to Get Your Money Back Before July 6

Colgate-Palmolive and its subsidiary Tom’s of Maine agreed to pay $2.9 million to settle class action lawsuits over alleged deceptive practices in the manufacturing and marketing of their toothpaste products. If you bought any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste in the U.S. between November 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026, you may qualify for a cash refund — and you do not need a receipt to file. The deadline to submit a claim is July 6, 2026.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$2,900,000
Claim Deadline	July 6, 2026
Who Qualifies	U.S. residents who bought any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste for personal use between Nov. 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026
Payout — No Proof	Average MSRP for one product per household (~$5.99 based on current pricing)
Payout — With Proof	Full refund of amount paid, for up to three products per household
Proof Required	No — for one-product refund. Yes (receipt or loyalty card record) — to claim up to three products
Settlement Status	Open for Claims (Preliminary Approval Granted)
Administrator	Epiq Global
Official Website	toothpastesettlement.com

Where Things Stand Right Now

• The settlement has received preliminary court approval and the claim portal is live now.
• The opt-out and objection deadlines both fall on July 6, 2026 — the same day claims are due.
• A Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2026. Payments go out approximately 60 days after the court grants final approval.

What Did Consumers Actually Accuse Tom’s of Maine Of?

Tom’s of Maine built its brand on being a trustworthy, natural alternative to conventional personal care products. Millions of American families — including parents buying toothpaste for their kids — chose Tom’s specifically because they trusted its “natural” and safety messaging.

That trust is at the center of six separate class action lawsuits that have now been consolidated into this settlement. Plaintiffs in cases including Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., Denny v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., Pitre v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., Foreman v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., and Zetterstrom v. Colgate-Palmolive Co. allege that Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine engaged in deceptive and misleading business practices related to how they manufactured, marketed, and sold their toothpaste products.

The lawsuits point specifically to a May 2024 FDA inspection of Tom’s manufacturing facility in Sanford, Maine. The FDA found that certain conditions at the plant were not in compliance with its Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements — the federal safety standards that govern how drugs and personal care products must be made. Importantly, a review of finished products did not identify a direct safety risk to consumers, and both Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine deny all allegations of wrongdoing. They agreed to settle solely to avoid the ongoing cost and risk of litigation. AllAboutLawyer.com’s earlier coverage of the Tom’s of Maine contamination lawsuit and FDA warning explains the full background of what the FDA found at the Sanford facility and how those findings triggered the legal actions that led to this settlement.

Related article: Chime Financial Class Action Lawsuit 2026, Were You Locked Out During the April Cyberattack?

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?

The eligibility criteria for this settlement are deliberately broad — virtually any American household that bought Tom’s toothpaste in the past five-plus years may qualify.

You may qualify if:

• You purchased any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste product in the United States. The settlement covers all Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products — not just specific varieties — so any flavor, formula, or size counts.
• Your purchase happened between November 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026. This is a nearly five-and-a-half year window, so most regular Tom’s customers will fall within it.
• You bought the product for personal use, not for resale or redistribution to a business.
• One claim per household. Only a single claim form can be submitted per household address, regardless of how many people in your home purchased Tom’s toothpaste.

There are no geographic restrictions within the United States, no minimum quantity required, and no requirement that you still have your old toothpaste tubes. If you are a regular Tom’s buyer and cannot remember exactly which products you bought, you can still file a no-proof claim based on your general recollection.

Exactly How Much Money Can You Get?

Your payout amount depends entirely on whether you have documentation of your purchases.

No proof of purchase — one product refund per household: The settlement pays you the average MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) for one Tom’s of Maine toothpaste product during the class period. According to Tom’s of Maine’s current website, a standard full-size tube retails for approximately $5.99. The final payment amount will be based on the average MSRP calculated across the entire class period (November 2020 through March 2026).

With proof of purchase — up to three product refunds per household: If you have itemized receipts, loyalty card records, or other documentation showing the product name, price, date, and place of purchase, you can claim a full refund of the actual price you paid for up to three Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products. Documentation must clearly show all four of those details to qualify.

How the $2.9 million breaks down:

• Attorneys’ fees: up to $957,000
• Service awards to class representatives: up to $1,000 each
• Settlement administration costs: TBD
• Attorneys’ expenses: to be presented to the court for approval
• Approved consumer claimants: remaining balance

Because final payment amounts per person depend on total valid claims submitted, individual payouts may be adjusted if total claims exceed available funds.

How to File Your Claim (Step by Step)

Estimated time to complete: 5 minutes online

Step 1 — Go to the official claim portal at toothpastesettlement.com

Step 2 — Enter your household information, including name, address, and contact details

Step 3 — Indicate whether you have proof of purchase. If yes, select the documented refund option (up to three products). If no, select the standard no-proof option (one product MSRP)

Step 4 — Upload your documentation if you are filing a proof-of-purchase claim. Acceptable proof includes itemized receipts or loyalty card records showing product name, price, date, and store

Step 5 — Choose how you want to receive your payment: PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a paper check mailed to your address

Step 6 — Submit your claim and keep a copy of your confirmation for your records

Prefer to file by mail or need a paper form? You can request a claim form by calling 1-877-315-6779 or emailing [email protected], then mail the completed form to:

Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al. Class Administrator P.O. Box 2897 Portland, OR 97208-2897

Mailed forms must be postmarked by July 6, 2026.

Key Deadlines at a Glance

Milestone	Date
Settlement Preliminary Approval	Granted (April 2026)
Claims Period Opens	April 6, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	July 6, 2026
Opt-Out (Exclusion) Deadline	July 6, 2026
Objection Deadline	July 6, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	September 10, 2026
Expected Payment Date	Approximately 60 days after September 10, 2026 (TBD)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. You can file your claim directly at toothpastesettlement.com for free in about five minutes. Court-appointed class counsel from the Wright Law Office, Denlea & Carton LLP, and Wilshire Law Firm already represent all eligible class members and charge you nothing directly.

Is this settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The settlement is authorized by a federal court (Case No. 2:25-cv-6996 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York). The official claim website is toothpastesettlement.com and the administrator is Epiq Global, one of the most widely used settlement administrators in the country. Do not submit your information to any third-party website.

When will I receive my payment? 

The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2026. If the court grants approval, payments go out to approved claimants approximately 60 days after that — putting expected payments in late November or December 2026, depending on whether any appeals are filed.

What if I missed the claim deadline? 

If you do not file by July 6, 2026, you will receive no payment and will remain legally bound by the settlement — meaning you lose your right to sue Colgate-Palmolive or Tom’s of Maine separately for the same claims. Courts rarely reopen claim periods after they close.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Possibly. Payments that reimburse you for money you spent on a consumer product are generally treated as taxable income by the IRS. The amount involved here is small, but you should consult a tax professional about how to report it properly.

Does it matter which Tom’s of Maine toothpaste I bought — flavor, size, or formula? 

No. The settlement covers all Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products sold during the class period. You do not need to remember a specific product name, flavor, or SKU. If you bought any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste for personal use between November 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026, you qualify.

What if I used a grocery store loyalty card — does that count as proof of purchase?

 Yes. Loyalty card records that show the product name, price, date, and place of purchase are explicitly listed as acceptable documentation. Contact your grocery store or pharmacy to request a transaction history printout if you do not have paper receipts.

I thought there was already a Tom’s of Maine settlement before — is this the same one?

 No. A prior settlement in 2015 resolved claims related to Tom’s of Maine’s “natural” ingredient labeling and is fully closed. This 2026 settlement is a completely separate case arising from manufacturing practice concerns at the Sanford, Maine facility that the FDA flagged in 2024. If you filed a claim in 2015, that has no connection to this new settlement.

If you want a broader look at how Colgate-Palmolive’s product safety and marketing lawsuits have been developing alongside this settlement, see AllAboutLawyer.com’s full overview of the Colgate class action lawsuits consumers need to know about in 2026.

Sources & References

1. Official Settlement Website: toothpastesettlement.com
2. Official Settlement Notice (PR Newswire): prnewswire.com — April 6, 2026
3. Court Case: Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-6996 (JMW), U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New YorkLast Updated: April 7, 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.