SANFORD, ME – The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to personal care brand Tom’s of Maine after discovering disease-causing bacteria and mold-like substances in their products and facilities.

The FDA found various types of bacteria in the water supply at Tom’s facility in Sanford, Maine, including Paracoccus yeei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia insidiosa, which can lead to serious infections. The agency revealed that Tom’s used this water in their products and equipment rinsing processes.

Despite the microbial tests revealing concerning results, Tom’s continued to distribute their merchandise based on the final product tests without investigating the quality of the water used in production. The FDA also found a black mold-like substance and powder residues near equipment pieces in Tom’s facilities. Tom’s responded by stating they are retrospectively looking into the incidents and attributing the detection of Paracoccus yeei to a lab error, although the FDA disputes this claim.

Furthermore, Tom’s failed to properly investigate numerous product complaints related to odor, color, and taste, claiming that individual complaints do not indicate inadequate products. In response, the FDA is requiring Tom’s to submit assessments, remediation plans, and other documents regarding their operations, contamination hazards, testing methods, and cleaning procedures. The brand is collaborating with the FDA to address and resolve the issues identified at their Maine plant.

Tom’s of Maine is known for selling personal care items made from naturally sourced ingredients and is owned by Colgate-Palmolive. Their products, which include toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balms, and fragrances, are available at major retailers like Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, and Kroger. This situation highlights the importance of strict quality control measures in the production of consumer goods to ensure product safety and compliance with regulatory standards.