A consolidated class action complaint has been filed against a major consumer goods company and its subsidiary, accusing them of selling contaminated toothpaste products. On December 19, 2025, plaintiffs Jana Rabinowitz, Shana Denny, and Yolanda Pitre filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Colgate-Palmolive Company and Tom’s of Maine, Inc.
The plaintiffs allege that the defendants misrepresented their toothpaste products as "naturally sourced," "good for you," and made with "rigorous ingredient and packaging standards." However, they claim these products were manufactured using water contaminated with harmful bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ralstonia insidiosa. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued a warning letter to Tom’s of Maine on November 5, 2024, following an inspection that revealed significant violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA's findings included unsanitary conditions at the manufacturing facility and inadequate quality control measures.
Plaintiffs argue that they would not have purchased the toothpaste if they had known about its contamination. They claim economic injury due to paying a premium price for what they believed were safe products. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages exceeding $5 million, along with injunctive relief to prevent further deceptive practices by the defendants. Additionally, plaintiffs demand restitution and disgorgement of profits obtained through alleged false advertising.
The legal team representing the plaintiffs includes Jeffrey I. Carton from Denlea & Carton LLP in White Plains, NY; William Wright from The Wright Law Office in West Palm Beach, FL; and Thiago Coelho from Wilshire Law Firm in Los Angeles, CA. The case is being heard under Case ID 25-cv-6996.
Source: 225cv06996_Rabinowitz_v_Colgate_Palmolive_Company_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf