What to Know About the Recall of 17 Toothpaste Products

A toothpaste recall covers more than 4 million tubes across 17 products sold under the Brush Buddies, Evo, and ARU names. The affected products were distributed nationwide. The practical first step is to compare the product name on a tube at home with the list below; the brand alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s included.

The manufacturing firm, Pritam International Private Limited, began the voluntary recall in September after deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) standards. Those standards are intended to help ensure the quality of drug products through monitoring of manufacturers’ practices. On October 19, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) assigned the recall a Class II designation. The agency’s description says use of affected products may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences.

Products named in the recall

The affected list includes children’s character themed toothpastes, flavored products, and several adult formulas. Check the full product name and flavor, since some products under the same brand are not necessarily covered. The 17 named products are:

• Brush Buddies, Barbie, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Bubble Gum Flavor
• Brush Buddies, Hot Wheels, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Strawberry Flavor
• Brush Buddies, Crayola, Silly Scents, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Bubble Gum Flavor
• Brush Buddies, Crayola, Silly Scents, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Watermelon Flavor
• Brush Buddies, Crayola Silly Scents, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Strawberry Flavor
• Brush Buddies, My Little Pony Scents, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Bubble Gum Flavor
• Evo, Advanced Whitening, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Peppermint
• Evo, Sensitive, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Sweet Mint
• Brush Buddies, Vanilla Ice Cream Flavored Toothpaste, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste
• Brush Buddies, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Flavored Toothpaste, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste
• Brush Buddies, Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream Flavored Toothpaste, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste
• Brush Buddies, Chocolate Ice Cream Flavored Toothpaste, Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste
• Brush Buddies, Whitening Anti-cavity Fluoride Toothpaste, with Baking Soda
• Brush Buddies, Cavity Protection, Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Cool Mint
• Brush Buddies, Advanced Whitening, Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Peppermint
• ARU, Toothpaste, Gum Health, 9 Ingredients, Soothing Mint
• ARU, Toothpaste, Cavity Protection, 9 Ingredients, Cool Mint

Lot numbers and expiration dates can help distinguish affected tubes from other products with similar names. The enforcement report contains those details for each listed toothpaste. If a tube’s label is difficult to match against the product names, checking its lot and expiration information against that report may clarify whether it is included.

What the recall designation means

A Class II designation describes the possible level of harm associated with a product issue: the agency says use may lead to temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences. That wording describes a potential risk, not a finding that every tube will cause harm. The source article reports no injuries or illnesses associated with this recall at the time it was published.

The stated reason for the action is a departure from CGMP standards. The source does not describe a specific contaminant, explain which manufacturing step was affected, or report that testing found a particular substance in the toothpaste. So the recall information supports checking product identifiers and following the stated precaution; it does not establish that a particular tube has caused illness.

What consumers can do

The source says the FDA had not issued specific consumer guidance at the time of publication. Its suggested precaution is straightforward: don’t use a toothpaste that matches the recalled list. The article says consumers can discard an affected tube or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Checking the product name and, where needed, the lot number is especially useful when several similar flavors or character designs are in the same household.

If someone has already used one of the listed products and has a health concern, the source advises contacting a doctor. A pharmacist can also help answer general questions about choosing a replacement toothpaste, while a health professional can consider an individual’s symptoms and circumstances. The article does not provide evidence that a specific alternative product is needed.

For households, the useful takeaway is to check the names and identifiers on tubes before using them again. The reported scope is large, but the list is specific; the product name, flavor, and lot details are the relevant clues. The source’s reporting does not say whether further information or additional consumer guidance became available after publication.

Related reading: when to replace a toothbrush, toothpaste options, and whitening toothpaste options. More details about the manufacturing standards are available in the linked CGMP information; the recall’s designation is explained in the linked Class II reference. The source also links to its recall coverage.