Tom’s of Maine, a leading natural oral care brand, received a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November after the agency found disease-causing bacteria and mould-like and powdery substances in its products and facilities.
In a letter to Tom’s of Maine, an FDA inspector identified several types of bacteria in the water supply at its facility in Sanford, Maine, including Paracoccus yeei; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia insidiosa. The brand used the water in its products and to rinse equipment, the FDA said.
Tom’s of Maine has told CBS News that it is working with the FDA to resolve the issues the agency found in the Maine plant.
The FDA said despite the results of microbial tests it conducted, Tom’s of Maine continued to distribute merchandise based on the test results of final products, but did not investigate the quality of water used in the process.
Tom’s of Maine released the following statement to Happi: “We’re working with the FDA and are remedying the issues raised in their May inspection of the Tom’s toothpaste manufacturing plant in Sanford, Maine. We have always tested finished goods before they leave our control, and we remain fully confident in the safety and quality of the toothpaste we make. In addition, we have engaged water specialists to evaluate our systems at Sanford, have implemented additional safeguards to ensure compliance with FDA standards, and our water testing shows no issues. We are also making capital investments as part of an ongoing, significant upgrade of the Sanford plant’s water system. Tom’s is committed to making safe and effective natural products for our consumers, and to maintaining the trust in our brand.”
Tom’s of Maine has been part of Colgate-Palmolive since 2006. Its products are well-established in the US market, available in major retailers such as Whole Foods, Target, Walmart and Kroger.
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