Tom's of Maine
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026
The full answer: Is Tom's of Maine Made in USA?Verification Summary
American Score
Manufacturing Location
Kennebunk, ME
Headquarters
Kennebunk, ME
Founded
1970
Products Verified
15 products
Evidence Breakdown
Factory Location Specificity
Specific factory city identified
Website Claim
The brand's website says it makes its products in the USA
Manufacturing History
Long record of US manufacturing
Known Overseas Production
This brand imports some lines. Each product listed here is scored on its own evidence.
Verification Notes
Natural personal care products made in Kennebunk, ME since 1970. Now owned by Colgate but domestic manufacturing maintained. Website states Made in USA. WARNING (2026-03-20): FDA warning letter issued Nov 2024 for Sanford ME facility citing contaminated water in toothpaste production. Class-action lawsuit filed late 2024. Core toothpaste/deodorant still made in Sanford ME, but many newer product lines (baby, body lotion) manufactured by contract manufacturers in NM, NJ, NY. Facility NOT closed but under regulatory scrutiny. claim-holds: Tom's own site does not say 'Made in USA' in any of its 75 product descriptions or in its FAQ. Its mission page does refer to 'our Sanford facility ... with our Kennebunk facility coming next', meaning plants it operates itself. Gigafact (https://gigafact.org/fact-briefs/are-any-toms-of-maine-products-still-made-in-maine/): '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.' The toothpaste and deodorant we list are confirmed made in Maine. Soap and mouthwash are probably among the contract-made smaller lines, but nothing shows they are imported. Because the claim on the brand's own site is weak, websiteMadeInUsaClaim could reasonably go to false. If the orchestrator prefers that strict reading, treat this brand as unverifiable for the site claim, while the FDA source still supports CITY factory specificity. The Nov-2024 FDA warning letter stays in the notes. https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/colgate-palmolivetoms-maine-inc-687043-11052024 "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected your drug manufacturing facility, Tom's of Maine, Inc., FEI 1218077, at 27 Community Dr., Sanford, ME"
Brand evidence is re-checked on a rolling cycle
Quick Picks
Manufacturing Profile
Tom's of Maine manufactures at its factory in Kennebunk, ME. Founded in 1970, 56 years ago. The 15 Tom's of Maine listings here sit in health & personal care.
Verification tier
85% average
High: strong brand evidence, usually with product-level origin statements
Factory evidence
Specific city
Kennebunk, ME
Catalog breadth
15 products
1 category
How we verified Tom's of Maine
Most recent check: Oct 24, 2026
From the brand's website
“In 1970, with the help of a $5000 loan from a friend, Tom's of Maine was born.”
tomsofmaine.com · checked Oct 3, 2026
Store listings
We read the live store listing for 15 of the 15 Tom's of Maine products on this page (most recently Oct 24, 2026). None of them states where the product is made, so these products rely on the brand-level evidence above.
Company history
“In 1970, with the help of a $5000 loan from a friend, Tom's of Maine was born.”
tomsofmaine.com · checked Oct 3, 2026
These checks are run by our software on a schedule: brand websites are re-read about every three weeks, store listings weekly, and news is scanned monthly. Every flag is checked against its original source before anything on this page changes. How the American Score works.
Free Weekly Newsletter
American-Made Finds
One maker's story, the brands newly listed here, and a few US-made picks, every Thursday.
Tom's of Maine was founded in 1970 and makes the products listed here in Kennebunk, ME. The site lists 15 verified American-made Tom's of Maine products.
Toothpaste and deodorant from Sanford
Tom's of Maine operates its own plant at 27 Community Drive in Sanford, Maine, and its site mentions a Kennebunk facility as well. As of 2021, the Sanford plant made all of Tom's toothpaste and deodorant, according to a Gigafact review. That covers the Whole Care, Botanically Bright and charcoal toothpastes and the natural deodorants.
The company also uses a few contract manufacturers outside Maine for its smaller product lines. Bar soap and mouthwash may be among them. We found nothing showing any Tom's product is imported, but Tom's does not print an origin on its own product pages.
An FDA warning letter in 2024
In November 2024 the FDA issued a warning letter to Colgate-Palmolive and Tom's of Maine after inspecting the Sanford plant. The letter cited problems with the water used in making toothpaste. The plant remains open.
A railroad depot in Kennebunk
Tom and Kate Chappell started Tom's of Maine in 1970 with a $5,000 loan from a friend. The first product was Clearlake, a laundry detergent without phosphates, made in a single-line factory in the old Kennebunk railroad depot. Natural toothpaste followed by 1975. Tom's became part of Colgate-Palmolive in 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tom's of Maine made in the USA?
Yes, for the 15 products listed here. Tom's of Maine manufactures in Kennebunk, ME. Tom's of Maine makes its toothpaste and deodorant at company-run plants in Maine, chiefly Sanford. Contract manufacturers outside Maine make some smaller lines. Colgate-Palmolive owns the brand.
Where is Tom's of Maine manufactured?
Tom's of Maine is headquartered in Kennebunk, ME. Manufacturing takes place in Kennebunk, ME.
What Tom's of Maine products can I buy?
The site lists 15 Tom's of Maine products in Health & Personal Care. Each one links to a store that sells it.
When was Tom's of Maine founded?
Tom's of Maine was founded in 1970. Tom's of Maine makes its toothpaste and deodorant at company-run plants in Maine, chiefly Sanford. Contract manufacturers outside Maine make some smaller lines. Colgate-Palmolive owns the brand.
Where can I buy Tom's of Maine products?
Every Tom's of Maine product listed here links to a store that sells it, either a large online retailer or the brand's own shop.