Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Crayola kids' toothpaste among 4.3 million tubes recalled
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Seventeen products, 4,301,700 tubes, and no press release. Here's how to check the tube in your bathroom.
More than 4.3 million tubes of fluoride toothpaste, many of them made for kids, are being recalled nationwide over manufacturing problems at the factory in India where they were made. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists 17 recalled products sold under the Brush Buddies, evo, and ARU names. They include Brush Buddies tubes branded with Barbie, Hot Wheels, Crayola, and My Little Pony, plus four ice cream flavors.
The manufacturer, Pritam International Private Limited of Haridwar, India, started the voluntary recall on September 10, according to the FDA's enforcement records. The products were distributed by Ashtel Studios Inc. of Ontario, California. The FDA classified the recall as Class II on October 19, and its records say no press release was issued.
The listed reason is "CGMP deviations." CGMP stands for current good manufacturing practice, the FDA's rules for how drug factories have to design, monitor, and control their processes. The FDA treats fluoride toothpaste as an over-the-counter drug. When a company doesn't follow those rules, its products are considered adulterated under the law, but the FDA says that "does not mean that there is necessarily something wrong with the drug." The agency hasn't said what went wrong at the plant, and no illnesses or injuries have been reported, NBC News reported.
A Class II recall is the middle of the FDA's three levels. It covers products that may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or where the chance of serious harm is remote, according to the agency's definitions. Class I is reserved for products that could cause serious harm or death.
The Barbie, Hot Wheels, Crayola, and My Little Pony tubes together account for about 1.8 million of the recalled tubes. The single largest item is Brush Buddies Whitening toothpaste with baking soda, at 797,868 tubes. Here is every product on the FDA's list, with the UPC code from the label and the range of expiration dates covered:
| Product | UPC | Tubes | Expiration dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brush Buddies Barbie, bubble gum, 4 oz | 8 10147 88022 5 | 409,800 | February 2027 to May 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Hot Wheels, strawberry, 4 oz | 8 10147 88047 8 | 411,600 | February 2027 to December 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Crayola Silly Scents, bubble gum, 4 oz | 8 50048 32731 3 | 320,232 | December 2026 to January 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Crayola Silly Scents, watermelon, 4 oz | 8 50048 32730 6 | 320,232 | December 2026 to January 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Crayola Silly Scents, strawberry, 4 oz | 8 50048 32732 0 | 320,232 | December 2026 to January 2028 |
| Brush Buddies My Little Pony Scents, bubble gum, 4 oz | 8 10147 88270 0 | 17,400 | November 2026 to April 2027 |
| Brush Buddies Vanilla Ice Cream, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88517 6 | 112,092 | July 2027 to April 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Chocolate Ice Cream, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88518 3 | 112,092 | July 2027 to April 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88519 0 | 112,092 | July 2027 to April 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88520 6 | 112,092 | July 2027 to April 2028 |
| Brush Buddies Whitening with Baking Soda, cool mint, 3.5 oz | 8 50010 84249 3 | 797,868 | February 2027 to May 2028 |
| BB Advanced Whitening, peppermint, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88542 8 | 198,288 | May 2027 to June 2028 |
| BB Cavity Protection, cool mint, two 3.5 oz tubes | 8 10147 88543 5 | 231,936 | May 2027 to May 2028 |
| evo Advanced Whitening, peppermint, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88619 7 | 405,336 | August 2027 to March 2028 |
| evo Sensitive, sweet mint, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88620 3 | 389,880 | August 2027 to April 2028 |
| ARU Gum Health, soothing mint, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88786 6 | 15,264 | December 2027 to April 2028 |
| ARU Cavity Protection, cool mint, 3.5 oz | 8 10147 88785 | 15,264 | December 2027 to March 2028 |
The FDA's records list the UPC for the ARU Cavity Protection tube with only 11 digits. The full records also list specific lot numbers, all starting with "LWP." If your tube matches a product above, compare its lot number and expiration date against the FDA's recall listing for that product. One Hot Wheels lot is listed with a December 2028 expiration date, later than any other lot on the list.
Consumers with affected tubes should stop using them and contact the store or the company about a return or refund, Fox 5 New York reported.
Ashtel has been part of an FDA recall before. In 2020, Ashtel recalled small pouches of Smart Care hand sanitizer labeled with Paw Patrol, JoJo Siwa, and Hot Wheels branding because the packaging looked like food and drink pouches, according to the FDA's enforcement data. That recall was Class I and has since been closed.
Sources
- FDA Enforcement Report: Pritam International toothpaste recalls (D-0053-2027 to D-0069-2027)
- FDA: Facts about current good manufacturing practice
- FDA: Recalls background and definitions
- openFDA: Drug recall enforcement reports
- NBC News: Over 4 million tubes of toothpaste recalled
- CBS12: More than 4.3 million toothpaste tubes recalled
- Fox 5 New York: FDA announces recall of more than 4.3 million tubes of fluoride toothpaste
Frequently asked
Which toothpaste brands are recalled?
The FDA lists 17 products sold under the Brush Buddies, BB, evo, and ARU names. They include Brush Buddies tubes branded with Barbie, Hot Wheels, Crayola Silly Scents, and My Little Pony, plus four Brush Buddies ice cream flavors.
Why was Brush Buddies toothpaste recalled?
The FDA lists the reason as current good manufacturing practice deviations at Pritam International's plant in India. The agency hasn't said what went wrong, and no illnesses or injuries have been reported. The FDA classified it as a Class II recall on October 19, 2026.
How do I know if my toothpaste is part of the recall?
Match the product name and UPC code on the box or tube to the FDA's list, then check the lot number, which starts with LWP, and the expiration date. Recalled tubes have expiration dates from November 2026 into 2028.