# Did Tom's of Maine do something controversial? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041 "2010-10-22T21:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/21 "2010-12-11T15:19:01Z")
Anecdotal, but my ex-GF worked on a commercial for Tom’s about 6 months ago. She said they all seemed to be pretty enthusiastic, and the Tom is a nice old guy. We got lots of little sample products, which I still use from time to time. My impression is that the business was started up with a heavy dose of hippie naivete, and then got bought out. Fluoride is just another way of stealing our precious bodily fluids, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/22 "2010-12-11T15:33:34Z")
Just be sure you read the label carefully and not end up with… [Tom’s of the Spanish Main](http://kol.coldfront.net/thekolwiki/index.php/Tom%27s_of_the_Spanish_Main_Toothpaste) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/23 "2010-12-11T15:49:25Z")
Or for that matter, Tom of Finland. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/24 "2010-12-11T16:10:20Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Or for that matter, Tom of Finland. Leaves an awful salty aftertaste. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/25 "2010-12-11T16:37:25Z")
I never understood why people paid 4X the price for this crap-Tom’s always ahd a chalky taste, nad wasn’t as good as crest. I suppose people thopught it was made by a hippy in maine-but (as was pointed out) it was actually made in an old plant in NJ! Reminds me of a local brand of bottled “spring” water-the stuff is just filtered tapwater-you can all it spring water or mineral water, or natural-doesn’t mean squat. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/26 "2010-12-11T16:54:23Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Reminds me of a local brand of bottled “spring” water-the stuff is just filtered tapwater-you can all it spring water or mineral water, or natural-doesn’t mean squat. This is factually inaccurate. [Federal law strictly governs the labelling of bottled water.](http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=8cd4865383265ddffb2c9b90aaf51e94&rgn=div5&view=text&node=21:2.0.1.1.38&idno=21) > [@](#): > > (i) The name of water from a well tapping a confined aquifer in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer is **“artesian water”** or **“artesian well water.”** Artesian water may be collected with the assistance of external force to enhance the natural underground pressure. On request, plants shall demonstrate to appropriate regulatory officials that the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer. > > (ii) The name of water from a subsurface saturated zone that is under a pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure is **“ground water.”** Ground water must not be under the direct influence of surface water as defined in 40 CFR 141.2. > > (iii) The name of water containing not less than 250 parts per million (ppm) total dissolved solids (TDS), coming from a source tapped at one or more bore holes or springs, originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source, may be **“mineral water.”** Mineral water shall be distinguished from other types of water by its constant level and relative proportions of minerals and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source, due account being taken of the cycles of natural fluctuations. No minerals may be added to this water. > > (iv) The name of water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable processes and that meets the definition of\*\* “purified water”\*\* in the United States Pharmacopeia, 23d Revision, January 1, 1995, which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 551(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (Copies may be obtained from the United States Pharmacopial Convention, Inc., 12601 Twinbrook Pkwy., Rockville, MD 20852 and may be examined at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition’s Library, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: \*[Incorporation by Reference in the CFR | National Archives](http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html). \*), may be “purified water” or “demineralized water.” Alternatively, the water may be called **“deionized water”** if the water has been processed by deionization, **“distilled water”** if it is produced by distillation, “reverse osmosis water” if the water has been processed by reverse osmosis, and **“\_\_\_ drinking water”** with the blank being filled in with one of the defined terms describing the water in this paragraph (e.g., **“purified drinking water”** or **“deionized drinking water”** ). > > (v) The name of water that, after treatment and possible replacement of carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide from the source that it had at emergence from the source may be **“sparkling bottled water.”** > > (vi) The name of water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth may be **“spring water.”** Spring water shall be collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. There shall be a natural force causing the water to flow to the surface through a natural orifice. The location of the spring shall be identified. Spring water collected with the use of an external force shall be from the same underground stratum as the spring, as shown by a measurable hydraulic connection using a hydrogeologically valid method between the bore hole and the natural spring, and shall have all the physical properties, before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality, as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth. If spring water is collected with the use of an external force, water must continue to flow naturally to the surface of the earth through the spring’s natural orifice. Plants shall demonstrate, on request, to appropriate regulatory officials, using a hydrogeologically valid method, that an appropriate hydraulic connection exists between the natural orifice of the spring and the bore hole. > > (vii) The name of water that meets the requirements under “Sterility Tests” \<71\> in the United States Pharmacopeia, 23d Revision, January 1, 1995, which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 51. (Copies may be obtained from the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc., 12601 Twinbrook Pkwy., Rockville, MD 20852 and may be examined at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition’s Library, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: \*[Incorporation by Reference in the CFR | National Archives](http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html). \*), may be **“sterile water.”** Alternatively, the water may be called **“sterilized water.”** > > (viii) The name of water from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the ground which taps the water of an aquifer may be **“well water.”** Tap water (purified or not) may not be labelled “spring water” or “mineral water”. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/27 "2010-12-11T16:55:28Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Or for that matter, Tom of Finland. But you should see the size of their tubes! ETA: Public service announcement: Do not Google “Tom of Finland” if you’re at work. Or your kids are nearby. Or your sainted mother. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/28 "2010-12-11T18:58:07Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Look, Mom, a kook! Can we keep him? [moderating] This is GQ. No name-calling. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/29 "2010-12-11T19:16:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Thanks for the link. Here’s a direct [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzHuof4Bac) to the ad I saw. (Warning: extreme blandness) The line I mentioned is at the 1:52 mark. I didn’t make it all the way through that commercial. It was much too pious. I was just thinking that this is a commercial that can turn off your target audience when I looked at the comments below. It is rare–very, very rare–that I see a YouTube comment that’s worth reading. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen one that’s worth quoting. But this one’s beautiful: > [@YouTube commenter](#): > > This commercial is awful. I am a dyed in the wool liberal/progressive, but this thing makes me want to punch baby seals and then eat them cooked in cheese made from their mothers’ milk. > > You can HEAR the sound of people registering for the Republican party as this commercial is playing. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE HATE NORTHEASTERNERS! ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041/30 "2010-12-14T01:20:42Z")
I emailed Tom’s of Maine regarding the OP. > [@](#): > > Thank you for asking. We all wondered about that wording as well when we first heard it. > > In general it refers to times in the past when we haven’t had the best process in place for consumer qualifying new products, which has led to us having to discontinue products. > > Or, marketing that has been more focused on us telling you what we think is important to you instead of learning from you (via focus groups, and survey participation of our consumers) what is important to you. > > So we now have process in place to consumer qualify new products and we have adopted tools and processes to help us understand consumer needs more fully. > > It has meant challenging what we think we know so that we can actually learn what we should know. > > I hope this explanation is helpful to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-toms-of-maine-do-something-controversial/558041.md?page=1)