Tom's of Maine toothpaste made with bacteria-tainted water, FDA warns. Here are details.

Tom’s of Maine toothpaste made with bacteria-tainted water, FDA warns. Here are details.

Benjamin Hughes

Tom’s of Maine toothpaste was manufactured with water containing bacteria, while a “black mold-like substance” was found in a factory where the product was made, according to a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

The November 5 letter stated that Tom’s Simply White Clean Mint toothpaste contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a germ that can cause infections in the blood and lungs, the FDA letter said. 

The FDA letter also flagged another bacteria, Ralstonia insidiosa, which was found in water sources at the factory and 
has been linked to infections acquired in hospital settings. Another Tom’s of Maine product, Wicked Cool! Anticavity Toothpaste, was found to include another type of bacteria, Paracoccus yeei, the letter stated. The latter has been linked to infections such as peritonitis and conjunctivitis.

Aimee Picchi

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

Source: cbsnews.com