$2.9M Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste Settlement, Check If You Qualify for a Refund Deadline is July 6

The Tom’s of Maine toothpaste settlement is a product defect class action where eligible U.S. consumers can receive a full refund for up to three products — or a no-receipt payment worth the average retail price of one tube — by filing a claim before July 6, 2026. Colgate-Palmolive Company and its subsidiary Tom’s of Maine, Inc. agreed to pay $2,900,000 to resolve multiple consolidated lawsuits alleging deceptive and misleading practices related to the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of Tom’s toothpaste products. The settlement received preliminary approval on March 6, 2026, and the case sits before Judge James M. Wicks in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, as Rabinowitz et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company et al., No. 2:25-cv-06996.

Tom’s of Maine Settlement: Key Facts at a Glance

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$2,900,000
Claim Deadline	July 6, 2026
Who Qualifies	U.S. purchasers of any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste product for personal use between November 21, 2020 and March 6, 2026
Payout — No Receipt	Average manufacturer’s suggested retail price for up to one product per household (approx. $5.99 per a current Tom’s retail listing)
Payout — With Receipt	Full refund for up to three products, capped at three; subject to pro-rata reduction if total claims exceed the fund
Proof Required	No — but proof unlocks higher payout for up to three products
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved — March 6, 2026
Administrator	Class Administrator, P.O. Box 2897, Portland, OR 97208-2897
Official Website	toothpastesettlement.com
Last Updated	April 30, 2026

Current Status of the Tom’s of Maine Case

• The court granted preliminary approval on March 6, 2026; notice to class members is now underway
• The claim, exclusion, and objection deadline all fall on the same date: July 6, 2026
• The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET
• Payments will distribute after final approval and resolution of any appeals; leftover unclaimed funds go to Equal Justice Works as the cy pres recipient
• One claim form per household — you cannot submit multiple claims for the same address

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

The trouble started with an FDA inspection. In May 2024, FDA investigators visited Tom’s of Maine’s manufacturing facility in Sanford, Maine and found conditions that did not comply with the agency’s Current Good Manufacturing Processes (CGMP). A follow-up FDA Warning Letter issued November 5, 2024 documented what investigators found: bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ralstonia insidiosa in water used both in the products and to clean manufacturing equipment, a black mold-like substance observed near facility equipment, and roughly 400 consumer complaints about odor, color, and taste in toothpaste products — including children’s products — that the company failed to investigate.

Separate third-party testing by the consumer advocacy group Lead Safe Mama found that Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Kids’ Natural Fluoride-Free Toothpaste contained levels of lead and arsenic far exceeding proposed safety thresholds for children’s products. One independent analysis found lead levels approximately 4,800% higher than the proposed action level. Those findings triggered additional lawsuits on top of the FDA-related claims.

Multiple class actions — including Denny v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., Pitre v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., Foreman v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., Zetterstrom v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., and the lead case Rabinowitz v. Colgate-Palmolive Co. — were consolidated in the Eastern District of New York and resolved together. Plaintiffs alleged that Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine continued to market toothpaste as “naturally sourced,” “naturally effective,” and safe despite these manufacturing concerns. This type of defective product lawsuit is precisely what consumer class action litigation exists to resolve.

Both defendants deny all allegations and deny any wrongdoing. After reviewing pre-release testing data for approximately 4,900 finished toothpaste batches produced over three years, Tom’s of Maine reported that no batch showed a safety risk to consumers. The settlement was agreed to avoid the costs and risks of continued litigation.

Who Qualifies for the Tom’s of Maine Settlement?

This is one of the broadest eligibility windows in recent consumer fraud class action history — nearly six years of Tom’s toothpaste purchases qualify.

You may qualify if:

• You purchased any Tom’s of Maine toothpaste product — any flavor, any size
• Your purchase was made in the United States between November 21, 2020 and March 6, 2026
• You bought the toothpaste for personal use — not for resale or commercial distribution
• You submit only one claim form per household

You do NOT qualify if:

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

Tom’s of Maine toothpaste is sold at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, Amazon, and most grocery chains nationwide. If you or anyone in your household has bought Tom’s toothpaste at any of those stores in the past five-plus years, you almost certainly qualify. Contact the administrator at [email protected] or (877) 315-6779 if you are unsure.

How Much Can You Get from the Tom’s of Maine Settlement?

Your payout depends entirely on whether you have documentation of your purchase. Here are both paths.

Without proof of purchase — approximately $5.99 per household You receive the average manufacturer’s suggested retail price for one Tom’s of Maine toothpaste product per household. No receipt, no records, no problem — just an attestation that you made a qualifying purchase. Based on Tom’s current retail pricing, that figure is approximately $5.99, though the exact amount depends on the final average MSRP calculation Colgate provides to the administrator.

With proof of purchase — full refund for up to three products Submit an itemized receipt, loyalty card record, online order history, or credit card statement showing the purchase price, date, and number of units. You can claim a full refund for up to three products. This is the higher-value path if you have any documentation at all.

Pro-rata reduction applies to both tiers. If total approved claims exceed the $2.9 million fund after attorney fees and administrative costs are deducted, individual payments will be reduced proportionally. The law firms representing the class — Wright Law Office P.A., Denlea & Carton LLP, and Wilshire Law Firm PLC — are requesting attorney fees from the settlement fund; the exact amount is pending court approval.

Payment options include PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a mailed check — you select your preference when submitting the claim form.

How to File Your Tom’s of Maine Claim

Filing takes under 10 minutes online. Each household submits one form only.

1. Visit toothpastesettlement.com and click “Start Your Claim”
2. Enter your name, mailing address, email, and contact information
3. Select your claim type — with or without proof of purchase
4. Upload your receipt, loyalty record, or order confirmation if claiming with proof (up to three products)
5. Choose your payment method — PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or check
6. Submit online by July 6, 2026, or print and mail to: Class Administrator, P.O. Box 2897, Portland, OR 97208-2897, postmarked by July 6, 2026

Estimated time to complete: 5–10 minutes.

You can also request a paper claim form by calling (877) 315-6779 or emailing [email protected]. Keep a copy of your completed form or your email confirmation for your records — all claims are subject to verification.

Tom’s of Maine Settlement — Important Dates

Milestone	Date
FDA Inspection of Sanford, Maine Facility	May 2024
FDA Warning Letter Issued	November 5, 2024
Preliminary Approval Granted	March 6, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	July 6, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	July 6, 2026
Objection Deadline	July 6, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	September 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	TBD — after final approval and resolution of any appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a Tom’s of Maine settlement claim? 

No. The class is represented by Wright Law Office P.A., Denlea & Carton LLP, and Wilshire Law Firm PLC at no cost to you. You file directly at toothpastesettlement.com. No personal injury attorney or consumer rights lawyer is needed to participate.

Is the Tom’s of Maine settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, under Judge James M. Wicks, granted preliminary approval on March 6, 2026. The official settlement website at ToothpasteSettlement.com is court-authorized. Case No. 2:25-cv-06996 is a matter of public record.

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

Payments will go out after the September 10, 2026 Final Approval Hearing and after any appeals are resolved. There is no fixed payment date yet — check toothpastesettlement.com for updates after the hearing.

What if I don’t have a receipt for my Tom’s purchase?

 No receipt is required. You can file a claim with just an attestation that you made a qualifying purchase. Your payment will equal the average MSRP for one Tom’s toothpaste product — approximately $5.99 based on current retail pricing. If you have any documentation at all, submitting it unlocks refunds for up to three products.

Did Tom’s of Maine’s toothpaste actually harm anyone? 

According to defendants, an internal review of approximately 4,900 finished toothpaste batches found no safety risk to consumers. Both Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine deny all allegations of wrongdoing. The court has not determined that either company did anything wrong. The FDA findings documented facility compliance concerns — not confirmed consumer harm. If you believe you or a family member experienced health effects from a Tom’s product, consult a private product liability attorney about options outside this settlement.

Is the Silly Strawberry kids’ toothpaste included in this settlement? 

Yes. The settlement covers all Tom’s of Maine toothpaste products purchased during the class period — including the Silly Strawberry Kids’ Natural Fluoride-Free Toothpaste that was the subject of lead and arsenic testing allegations. The settlement resolves claims about manufacturing practices and marketing across the entire Tom’s toothpaste product line.

What if I want to preserve my right to sue separately? 

Submit a written opt-out request postmarked by July 6, 2026, to the Class Administrator at P.O. Box 2897, Portland, OR 97208-2897. Opting out means you receive no settlement payment but retain the right to pursue individual claims against Colgate-Palmolive and Tom’s of Maine. If you believe your situation warrants a separate lawsuit — particularly regarding the Silly Strawberry lead and arsenic allegations — consult a consumer rights lawyer before the opt-out deadline.

Can I get paid if I bought Tom’s deodorant or soap instead of toothpaste? 

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.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Website — toothpastesettlement.com
• FDA Warning Letter to Colgate-Palmolive/Tom’s of Maine — November 5, 2024
• Court-Authorized PR Newswire Settlement Notice

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official settlement website at ToothpasteSettlement.com, the FDA Warning Letter dated November 5, 2024, and the court-authorized settlement notice on April 30, 2026. Last Updated: April 30, 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.