Millions of tubes of toothpaste — including kid-friendly Barbie, Hot Wheels and My Little Pony varieties — are being pulled from shelves nationwide after federal regulators classified a sweeping set of recalls tied to manufacturing violations. The FDA has issued 17 voluntary nationwide recalls covering Brush Buddies, evo and ARU toothpaste products, according to the agency's own classification records.
The scope is massive: the recalls cover 4,301,700 tubes distributed across the country, as reported by gulfcoastnewsnow.com. A separate account from ntd.com puts the Brush Buddies-brand figure specifically at 4,298,900 tubes, a discrepancy that has not been fully explained in available records. Either way, it's one of the larger toothpaste recalls to hit store shelves and online marketplaces in recent memory.
Federal records show the manufacturer, Pritam International Private Limited, initiated the recalls on Sept. 10, while Ashtel Studios of Ontario, California, handled distribution of the products. The FDA designated the action as a Class II recall, a category reserved for situations where product use or exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, with serious adverse consequences considered remote. Regulators cited Current Good Manufacturing Practice deviations as the basis for the recall, but, as WBAL NewsRadio reports, federal officials have not described the precise issue behind the recalls.
Barbie, Hot Wheels and Ice Cream-Flavored Tubes Among Those Pulled
The recalled lineup spans far beyond a single product line. It includes Brush Buddies Barbie and Hot Wheels toothpastes, Crayola Silly Scents bubble gum, watermelon and strawberry toothpastes, and My Little Pony bubble gum toothpaste — all aimed at younger brushers. The same batch of recalls also touches a run of ice cream-themed flavors, including vanilla, mint chocolate chip, cookies 'n cream and chocolate ice cream varieties, per the same gulfcoastnewsnow.com report.
Adults aren't exempt either. The recalled products include whitening and value-pack toothpastes, plus mint whitening and cavity-protection formulas. Two evo-branded products marketed for whitening and sensitivity are part of the action, alongside two ARU toothpastes marketed for gum health and cavity protection. Listed expiration dates on the recalled tubes range from November 2026 through June 2028, meaning some of this stock could have still been sitting in bathroom cabinets for close to two more years.
Where the Toothpaste Was Sold
According to ntd.com, the affected brand was sold online through eBay.com and Amazon.com, giving the recall a reach that extends well beyond brick-and-mortar retailers. WBAL NewsRadio reports that Hearst Television reached out to the FDA for comment on the reason behind the recalls and, as of publication, had received no response.
This isn't the first time a toothpaste maker tied to overseas manufacturing has run into this exact kind of federal scrutiny. A separate recall in May 2025 involved 11 toothpaste products and roughly 4,617,316 units distributed in Delaware and North Carolina, according to thehealthy.com. That action involved Kenil Healthcare Private Limited of India, with products distributed by Bob Barker Co. Inc. of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, and it was first issued on April 24 before later receiving the same Class II designation now applied to the Brush Buddies, evo and ARU products. In both cases, the FDA cited Current Good Manufacturing Practice deviations as the reason for pulling product, suggesting a recurring compliance headache in the toothpaste supply chain even as the specific defects behind each recall remain unspecified.
For now, consumers holding onto Brush Buddies, evo or ARU toothpaste with expiration dates in the affected window are left waiting on more detailed guidance, as federal records reviewed so far do not spell out next steps for refunds or returns.
