Who owns Crest and Colgate?

Procter & Gamble owns Crest, while Colgate-Palmolive Company owns Colgate. The two toothpaste brands have different ultimate owners.

Is Colgate a P&G product?

No. Colgate is a Colgate-Palmolive product. Procter & Gamble owns Crest and Oral-B.

Is Colgate a good toothpaste, or is Colgate better than Crest?

Colgate and Crest offer different formulas for cavity protection, gum care, sensitivity, whitening, and children’s use. The better choice depends on the active ingredient, product claims, personal sensitivity, and advice from a dental professional.

Does Colgate toothpaste contain gluten?

Colgate states that its products are free from gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley. Consumers with celiac disease or allergies should check the ingredient list for the specific product and country.

Is Colgate Optic White safe to use?

Colgate describes Optic White Advanced as enamel-safe for daily use when used as directed. The product contains a patented 2% hydrogen peroxide formula, and users should follow the local label because Optic White formulations vary.

Who owns Colgate-Palmolive and who owns Colgate in India?

Colgate-Palmolive Company is the ultimate owner of the Colgate brand. Colgate-Palmolive operates through local subsidiaries and companies in international markets, including India, but local operations do not change the ultimate owner.

Who owns Colgate?

Colgate

Ultimate ownerUnited StatesColgate-Palmolive Company

Brand origin: United States
Main production: Several countries, incl. Poland

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About Colgate

What is Colgate?

Colgate is an oral-care brand originating in the United States. Colgate-Palmolive sells Colgate toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, whitening products, and other oral-care products in more than 200 countries and territories. Colgate-Palmolive also operates in personal care, home care, and pet nutrition. Colgate toothpaste is formulated in different variants for cavity protection, gum health, sensitivity relief, whitening, and children’s oral care. Colgate became a major international toothpaste brand through product development, dental education, and expansion into overseas markets. Colgate-Palmolive reported a 41.3% global toothpaste market share year to date in the second quarter of 2026. In 2015, oral-care products principally produced under the Colgate name generated approximately $7.5 billion, representing 47% of Colgate-Palmolive’s global net sales. A 2015 Kantar Worldpanel report gave Colgate global household penetration of 67.7% and global market share of 45%. These figures describe different measurements. Household penetration refers to the share of households purchasing the brand, while market share refers to Colgate’s share of the measured toothpaste market.

Who owns Colgate?

Colgate is ultimately owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company, according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Colgate-Palmolive Company is a publicly listed company headquartered in New York City, United States, and its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CL. Colgate is not owned by Procter & Gamble. Crest is a Procter & Gamble brand, while Colgate belongs to Colgate-Palmolive. Colgate and Crest therefore have different corporate owners. Oral-B is also associated with Procter & Gamble, not Colgate-Palmolive. Colgate-Palmolive’s official name dates from 1953. The company was previously known as Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company after Colgate merged with Palmolive-Peet in 1928. Colgate-Palmolive-Peet was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1930. Colgate-Palmolive’s chairman, president, and chief executive officer is Noel Wallace. Noel Wallace became president and chief executive officer in 2019 and chairman in 2020. Colgate-Palmolive owns and markets Colgate internationally, including through local subsidiaries and operating companies. Local distribution or manufacturing arrangements do not change the ultimate owner identified above.

Where does Colgate come from?

Colgate originated in New York City, United States. William Colgate founded a starch, soap, and candle business at 6 Dutch Street in New York City in 1806. Colgate entered oral care in 1873, when the business began selling toothpaste in jars. Colgate introduced toothpaste in a collapsible tube in 1896. The tube format made toothpaste easier to package and use than the earlier jar format. Samuel Colgate’s five sons incorporated Colgate in 1906. Colgate established its first international subsidiary in Canada in 1914. During the 1920s, Colgate established operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Colgate merged with Palmolive-Peet in 1928. The merger created Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company. The company became Colgate-Palmolive in 1953. Colgate-Palmolive opened its global corporate headquarters at 300 Park Avenue in New York City in 1956. Colgate Ribbon Dental Cream became the first brand to receive the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval in 1930. Colgate’s United States market share reached 23% in 1956, compared with 9% in 1947. Colgate reformulated toothpaste with MFP fluoride in 1968 to fight cavities. Colgate launched the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures global children’s oral-health education initiative in 1991. Colgate Total toothpaste was first marketed in 1992 after the development of a process intended to control gingivitis. Colgate introduced the Colgate 360-degree manual toothbrush in 2004. Colgate launched Optic White in 2011 with a toothpaste formula containing a professionally recommended whitening agent. In 2018, Colgate licensed Kolibree technology from Baracoda Daily Healthtech and launched the Colgate Smart Electric toothbrush. In 2019, Colgate-Palmolive introduced a recyclable toothpaste tube that the company described as the world’s first of its kind.

What products does Colgate make?

Colgate makes toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, whitening products, and children’s oral-care products. Its toothpaste ranges include Colgate Cavity Protection, Colgate Total, Colgate Optic White, and Colgate Kids products. Colgate Cavity Protection toothpaste uses sodium monofluorophosphate as its active ingredient in the United States formula listed by Colgate. Colgate Total uses stannous fluoride as its active ingredient. Colgate states that stannous fluoride provides cavity protection, gum-health benefits, and sensitivity relief in Colgate Total toothpaste. Colgate Optic White products are designed for tooth whitening. Colgate Optic White Advanced toothpaste contains a patented 2% hydrogen peroxide formula, according to Colgate. Colgate describes the formula as enamel-safe for daily use. Colgate Kids toothpaste products include anticavity fluoride formulations. Colgate also makes manual and electric toothbrushes. The Colgate 360-degree manual toothbrush launched in 2004. The Colgate Smart Electric toothbrush launched in 2018 after Colgate licensed Kolibree technology from Baracoda Daily Healthtech. Product formulas vary by country and product variant. The active ingredients and inactive ingredients listed on a package or on the relevant local product page are the appropriate source for a specific product.

Is Colgate toothpaste safe and is Colgate toothpaste bad for you?

Colgate toothpaste is formulated to meet applicable regulations, but safety depends on using the specific product as directed. Colgate states that its ingredients undergo safety evaluation and that its products meet applicable government requirements in the markets where they are sold. Fluoride is an active ingredient in many Colgate toothpastes. Colgate states that fluoride strengthens enamel against acid attacks and helps prevent cavities. Colgate reports that over-the-counter toothpastes generally contain about 1,100 parts per million of fluoride, although the amount and type vary by product and country. A United States Colgate Cavity Protection formula lists sodium monofluorophosphate at 0.76%, providing 0.15% weight per volume fluoride ion. The same formula lists dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, water, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, cellulose gum, flavor, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and sodium saccharin as inactive ingredients. Colgate-Palmolive states that it does not add formaldehyde to its products and has never used formaldehyde donors in its oral-care products. The company also states that it stopped using parabens as of July 2016. Colgate-Palmolive states that it stopped using triclosan in Colgate Total toothpaste in January 2019 after introducing a new formula. Toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed. Children require particular care because swallowing excessive fluoride toothpaste can cause dental fluorosis during tooth development. Product labels provide age-specific instructions, and a dentist can advise on the appropriate product and amount.

Is Colgate toothpaste gluten free, vegan, and cruelty free?

Colgate states that its products are free from gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley. Colgate also states that the majority of its products are vegan and do not contain animal-derived ingredients, animal by-products, or processing aids. The statements apply across Colgate-Palmolive’s product information and do not establish that every product in every market has the same formulation. Ingredients and manufacturing standards can differ by product and country. Consumers with celiac disease, wheat allergy, or other dietary restrictions should check the local package and ingredient list. Colgate’s ingredient information states that products are tested throughout development and production. A product’s vegan or gluten-free status should be confirmed for the specific product rather than assumed from the Colgate name alone. The research information used here does not establish a single global certification covering every Colgate product.

Is Colgate Optic White safe and is Colgate Optic White good?

Colgate describes Optic White toothpaste as enamel-safe for daily use when used as directed. Colgate Optic White Advanced contains a patented 2% hydrogen peroxide formula and is marketed for whitening. Optic White is designed to remove or reduce the appearance of stains rather than change every aspect of natural tooth color. Whitening products can cause temporary tooth sensitivity or gum irritation in some users. People with existing dental problems, restorations, or persistent sensitivity can ask a dental professional whether a whitening product is appropriate. The safety and performance of Optic White depend on the specific formulation. Colgate sells multiple Optic White products, and formulations can differ between countries. The product label remains the appropriate source for directions, warnings, and ingredients.

Why are people boycotting Colgate and what lawsuits has Colgate faced?

People cite different reasons for calls to boycott Colgate, including political claims, corporate conduct, advertising disputes, and concerns about ingredients or animal testing. A boycott claim does not by itself establish that an allegation is proven. In 2007, the United Kingdom’s Advertising Standards Authority ruled that Colgate could no longer claim that four out of five dentists recommended Colgate. The regulator found the claim deceptive. The ruling concerned the advertising claim and did not establish that Colgate toothpaste was unsafe. Colgate-Palmolive has also faced consumer and regulatory scrutiny over product ingredients, advertising, and business practices. The existence of a lawsuit or complaint does not establish liability. The available research information does not support treating every online allegation about Colgate as an established finding. Colgate-Palmolive states that its ingredients meet applicable government regulations and that the company evaluates ingredient safety using scientific evidence. The company states that its products are tested during development and through the product lifecycle.

Who is the Colgate family and who is the CEO of Colgate?

The Colgate family was the New York family associated with the business founded by William Colgate in 1806. Samuel Colgate’s five sons incorporated Colgate in 1906. William Colgate began the original business as a starch, soap, and candle shop at 6 Dutch Street in New York City. The family connection continued through the incorporation of Colgate by Samuel Colgate’s sons. The modern Colgate brand is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company rather than by a privately controlled Colgate family business. Noel Wallace is the chief executive officer of Colgate-Palmolive. He became president and CEO in 2019 and chairman in 2020. Noel Wallace joined Colgate-Palmolive in 1987 and held senior management roles before becoming CEO. Colgate University is a separate institution from Colgate toothpaste and Colgate-Palmolive. Colgate University is a private liberal arts university in Hamilton, New York. The university is not owned by Colgate-Palmolive, and Colgate is not an Ivy League school. Colgate University is not a Division I athletic program under the Colgate toothpaste brand. Questions about Colgate University’s academics, athletics, or admissions concern a separate organization.

Frequently asked questions about Colgate

Who owns Colgate toothpaste now?: Colgate toothpaste is ultimately owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company, a publicly listed company headquartered in New York City, United States. Made O’Meter verified this ownership on 13 September 2026.
Who owns Crest and Colgate?: Procter & Gamble owns Crest, while Colgate-Palmolive Company owns Colgate. The two toothpaste brands have different ultimate owners.
Is Colgate a P&G product?: No. Colgate is a Colgate-Palmolive product. Procter & Gamble owns Crest and Oral-B.
Is Colgate a good toothpaste, or is Colgate better than Crest?: Colgate and Crest offer different formulas for cavity protection, gum care, sensitivity, whitening, and children’s use. The better choice depends on the active ingredient, product claims, personal sensitivity, and advice from a dental professional.
Does Colgate toothpaste contain gluten?: Colgate states that its products are free from gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley. Consumers with celiac disease or allergies should check the ingredient list for the specific product and country.
Is Colgate toothpaste cruelty free?: The available product information states that the majority of Colgate-Palmolive products are vegan and do not contain animal-derived ingredients, animal by-products, or processing aids. That statement does not establish one universal cruelty-free certification for every Colgate product worldwide.
Is Colgate Optic White safe to use?: Colgate describes Optic White Advanced as enamel-safe for daily use when used as directed. The product contains a patented 2% hydrogen peroxide formula, and users should follow the local label because Optic White formulations vary.
Who owns Colgate-Palmolive and who owns Colgate in India?: Colgate-Palmolive Company is the ultimate owner of the Colgate brand. Colgate-Palmolive operates through local subsidiaries and companies in international markets, including India, but local operations do not change the ultimate owner.