THE LABEL FILES•Ingredient

Triclosan

AVOID, An endocrine-disrupting antibacterial the FDA banned from soaps and the EU restricted, and the active in Colgate Total until they quietly reformulated it out around 2019. Worth knowing what was in the tube you trusted for years.

What it is

A synthetic polychlorinated phenolic antibacterial compound (CAS 3380-34-5). Was used at 0.3% as the sole active ingredient in original Colgate Total, the only FDA-approved triclosan toothpaste. Reformulated out of Colgate Total around 2018–2019.

In this product: Antigingivitis antibacterial active (historical, removed from current US formulations circa 2019). Not present in any product in this batch.

Dose & route, what actually matters

Oral (incidental ingestion during brushing) and dermal. At 0.3% in toothpaste, systemic absorption via oral mucosa and swallowing was the relevant pathway. Historical exposure route only for current US products.

EUROPEAN UNION

EU Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/996 (April 3, 2024, effective October 31, 2025) restricts triclosan in cosmetics: maximum 0.3% in toothpaste and mouthwash; banned in toothpaste for children under 3. Mandatory warning label required.

UNITED STATES

FDA 2016 Final Rule banned triclosan from over-the-counter hand and body wash, citing insufficient safety evidence. Toothpaste was explicitly exempted. Colgate voluntarily reformulated Colgate Total to an SF (stannous fluoride) formula, removing triclosan, around 2018–2019. No formal FDA toothpaste ban enacted. Current US Colgate Total contains no triclosan.

The evidence

Colgate voluntarily reformulated Colgate Total, removing triclosan and replacing it with stannous fluoride. New ‘SF’ formula launched with Super Bowl advertising in early 2019.

regulatory · 2019 · source

EU Regulation 2024/996 (effective October 2025) restricts triclosan in toothpaste to max 0.3% and bans it in children’s toothpaste (under 3). The US FDA’s 2016 soap ban explicitly exempted toothpaste, and no formal ban was enacted before Colgate’s voluntary reformulation.

regulatory · 2024 · source

California Prop 65: Not listed on California Prop 65.

How to avoid it

No action needed for current US Colgate Total SF, triclosan was removed circa 2019. Check any old or imported toothpaste for ‘Triclosan’ on the Drug Facts active ingredient panel.

Editorial analysis of publicly available regulatory and peer-reviewed sources. Not medical advice. We name our evidence and link it, including when an ingredient is fine.