Mold, bacteria and powdery residue-not exactly the natural ingredients you'd expect from Tom's of Maine, Colgate-Palmolive's star brand renowned for its 'natural' personal care products. Apparently, the company's factory in Sanford, Maine, was also distributing these unlisted surprises according to a recent warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA had a field day on their inspection, discovering all sorts of unsavory bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ralstonia insidiosa in the factory's water samples. Laughing in the face of antibiotics, P. aeruginosa is notorious for causing infections in the blood, lungs, and urinary tract. To add icing to the cake, this contaminated water was used in the production of Tom's Simply White Clean Mint Paste. Meanwhile, R. insidiosa is renowned for causing pneumonia and infections in hospitals, sounds ideal for personal care products, doesn't it?

Continuing the hit parade, their Wicked Cool! toothpaste was contaminated with Paracoccus yeei bacteria. The company passed it off as a 'lab error,' a claim that even the FDA found hard to swallow.

Despite a slap on the wrist from the FDA in June, Tom's of Maine continued to distribute their potentially hazardous products, all while conveniently forgetting to investigate their suspect water quality-an oversight that the FDA did not find amusing.

The cherry on top? Approximately 400 complaints related to the taste, color, and odor of their toothpaste had been shrugged off by the company, claiming it would only warrant a response if it establishes a trend.

As of November 21, no product recalls from Tom's of Maine have been reported. While the company boasts a wide range of natural personal care products distributed majorly across the U.S., the FDA has laid out a clear option for them: respond appropriately and take corrective actions to address the violations in the warning letter.

In the aftermath, the company maintains that their toothpaste is safe for use and all batches are tested for harmful bacteria and mold before they hit the market. They assure customers of their commitment in addressing the issues raised and are in the process of implementing additional safeguards at their Sanford plant.

Meanwhile, those of you who swear by Tom's of Maine, it wouldn't hurt to keep an ear out for company updates regarding this booty surprise, or consider exploring alternative products if this debacle has dampened your faith in the brand. Remember, 'natural' doesn't always translate to clean or safe.