UK FDA warns Tom’s Maine Amid Bacteria In Products
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to Tom’s of Maine, a popular personal care brand, after discovering disease-causing bacteria and mold-like substances in its products and facilities.
According to an FDA inspection report, the agency found several types of bacteria in the water supply at Tom’s of Maine’s facility in Sanford, Maine, including:
- Paracoccus yeei
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can lead to blood, lung, and urinary tract infections
- Ralstonia insidiosa, which can lead to sepsis
The FDA noted that Tom’s of Maine used the contaminated water in its products and to rinse equipment. Despite microbial test results indicating contamination, Tom’s continued to distribute merchandise without investigating the quality of the water used in the process.
Additionally, the FDA inspection revealed:
- A black mold-like substance and powdery residues on or near equipment
- Failure to investigate hundreds of product complaints regarding odor, color, and taste
- Inadequate cleaning procedures
Tom’s of Maine responded to the FDA’s findings, stating that it is working to resolve the issues and has retrospectively looked into the incidents. The company attributed the detection of Paracoccus yeei to a lab error, but the FDA disputed this claim.
The FDA has required Tom’s of Maine to submit several documents, including:
- Assessments and remediation plans for its operations
- Contamination hazard analyses
- Testing methods and cleaning procedures
Tom’s of Maine, owned by Colgate-Palmolive, markets its products as naturally sourced and derived. Its goods are sold in major retailers such as Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, and Kroger.
This development raises concerns about the safety and quality of Tom’s of Maine’s products and the effectiveness of its quality control measures.
