Tuesday, Jun. 3, 2025
Are any Tom’s of Maine products still made in Maine?
Tom’s of Maine products are still made in Maine — although not exclusively.
Founded in 1970 by Tom and Kate Chappell, who had moved to Maine two years earlier, the toothpaste, body care products and deodorant manufacturer has maintained its headquarters in Kennebunk, even after it was acquired by consumer products giant Colgate-Palmolive in 2006.
Tom’s has a manufacturing facility in Sanford that, as of 2021, produced all of its toothpaste and deodorant products. The company also says it relies on a few contract manufacturers outside of Maine to make its smaller product lines.
In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter saying water used in production at the Sanford facility was contaminated with strains of harmful bacteria, and that Tom’s failed to adequately investigate it or assess the impact on product safety. The company responded by saying it was working to remedy the issue.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Tom’s of Maine Who We Are
- Colgate-Palmolive Colgate Completes Purchase of Tom's of Maine
- Tom’s of Maine Fact Sheet: Manufacturing
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration Warning Letter: Colgate-Palmolive/Tom's of Maine, Inc.
- Tom’s of Maine The safety of our toothpaste
About fact briefs
Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.
See all fact briefsLatest Fact Briefs
Has homelessness in Maine doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic began?
Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025
Did Maine lack a legal minimum age for marriage prior to 2020?
Wednesday, May. 28, 2025