Important Update on Colgate Total Active Prevention Fluoride Toothpaste – A Critical Review
Published on April 17, 2025 — Thursday
A Message from Tamara Rubin:
As expected, testing has revealed that the Colgate Total Active Prevention Fluoride Toothpaste contains detectable levels of toxic heavy metals, specifically Lead and Mercury. The concentrations of these toxicants are within the legal limits set by federal regulations, notably, the maximum allowable Lead content in fluoride toothpaste is 20,000 parts per billion (ppb), equivalent to 20 parts per million (ppm). However, it is crucial to recognize that all major health authorities agree that there is no safe level of Lead exposure for humans, especially for children.
Our community at Lead Safe Mama emphasizes the importance of advocating for safer, cleaner products. We urge consumers to demand higher safety standards from trusted brands like Colgate and to hold government agencies accountable for establishing and enforcing stricter safety regulations. Protecting children is our top priority, particularly because young children are more vulnerable and often swallow toothpaste during brushing routines.
Through our collaborative laboratory testing initiative, we have identified five alternative toothpaste products that tested non-detect for heavy metals, with detection limits clearly indicated on each lab report. These safer options are available on our toothpaste comparison chart landing page and listed below for your convenience. If you are concerned about potential health impacts from using the tested product, we recommend reading the linked article on lead exposure and testing options, which provides valuable insights into blood and urine testing, natural detox protocols, and more.
- Information about Blood Lead Testing
- Information about Urine Testing for Heavy Metals
- Natural Food-Based Detox Protocols
- List of 68 Safer, Lab-Tested Products
- Comprehensive Laboratory Reports Archive (over 350 reports)
Access to Original Lab Reports
The full laboratory report for this specific toothpaste is available at the bottom of this article. Please scroll down to review it. We encourage you to explore our extensive database of lab-tested foods, supplements, and personal care products, all verified for low heavy metal content. Our updated safer choices list includes 68 products, and new reports are regularly added.
Resources for Safer Consumer Choices
Visit our Food and Supplement Testing Landing Page for curated lists of safer options, including snack foods, beverages, and personal care products. Supporting our independent testing efforts is easy—simply click on our affiliate links or contribute directly via GoFundMe or Patreon to sustain and expand our work.
About Tamara Rubin and Our Mission
Tamara Rubin is a renowned advocate for childhood lead poisoning prevention, a filmmaker, and a mother who experienced the devastating effects of lead poisoning firsthand. Her work has led to six product recalls since July 2022, and all results shared on this platform are scientifically verified, accurate, and reproducible.
Visit our Press Page to see media coverage of our initiatives. We are committed to providing ad-free, science-based information to empower consumers to make safer choices for their families.
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Laboratory-Tested Safer Products – As of April 8, 2025
Below is an expanding list of products that have tested non-detect for heavy metals, demonstrating that safer manufacturing is achievable:
- Baby Food – 1: Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
- Baby Food – 2: Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
- Baby Food – 3: Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
- Baby Food – 4: Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
- Baby Food – 5: Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
- Beverage – 1: Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink Link
- Beverage – 2: Olipop Grape Tonic Link
- Breakfast Item – 1: Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs Link
- Breakfast Item – 2: Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Corn Puffs Gorilla Munch Link
- Breakfast Item – 3: One Degree Organic Gluten-Free Sprouted Rolled Oats (Canada) Link
- Candy – 1: Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA, New Hampshire) Link
- Candy – 2: Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops (Germany) Link
- Coffee & Tea – 1: Chameleon Handcrafted Organic Cold Brew Concentrate Link
- Coffee & Tea – 2: Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Portland-based, imported from Japan) Link
- Coffee & Tea – 3: Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew (XX Espresso) Link
- Coffee & Tea – 4: Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee (Multi-country origin) Link
- Coffee Creamer – Plant-Based: Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer Link
- Coffee Creamer – Dairy: Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half Link
- Dairy & Cheese: Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese Link
- Fruit Snack – 1: GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch Link
- Fruit Snack – 2: Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch (Costco) Link
- Fruit Snack – 3: Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Strawberry Banana Link
- Fruit Snack – 4: Once Upon A Farm Dairy-Free Fruit Smoothie Pouch (Strawberry Banana Swirl) Link
- Fruit Snack – 5: Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Raspberry Lemonade Link
- Infant Formula – 1: Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula Link
- Infant Formula – 2: Bobbie Organic Infant Formula Link
- Infant Formula – 3: Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder Link
- Infant Formula – 4: ByHeart Infant Formula, USA-made Link
- Infant Formula – 5: HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula Stage 1 (imported) Link pending
- Infant Formula – 6: HiPP HA Stage PRE (imported) Link pending
- Infant Formula – 7: Holle Bio Goat Stage 2 Infant Formula (European, Swiss/German/Austrian) Link
- Infant Formula – 8: Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (non-organic) Available at Target
- Infant Formula – 9: Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European, British, cow milk) Link pending
- Infant Formula – 10: Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (Europe, pink can) Available at Target
- Infant Formula – 11: Kendamil Organic Infant Formula Available at Target
- Ingredient – 1: Jacobsen’s Oregon Sea Salt Link
- Ingredient – 2: Maldon Sea Salt Flakes Link
- Ingredient – 3: Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy) Link
- Ingredient – 4: Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds Link
- Ingredient – 5: Navitas Organic Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico) Link
- Ingredient – 6: Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar Link
- Ingredient – 7: Jovial Organic Chickpeas Link
- Ingredient – 8: Anthony’s Organic Granulated Cane Sugar Link
- Oil – 1: Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil Link
- Oil – 2: Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil Link
- Oil – 3: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Coconut Oil Link
- Plant-Based Milk – 1: Kiki Organic Plant-Based Milk Link
- Plant-Based Milk – 2: West Soy Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk Link
- Supplement – 1: Baby Ddrops Vitamin D3 for Babies Link
- Supplement – 2: Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C Link
- Supplement – 3: Mary Ruth’s Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops with Iron Link
- Supplement – 4: Mary Ruth’s Organic Elderberry Liquid Drops Link
- Supplement – 5: Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil Link
- Supplement – 6: Nordic Naturals Kids Vitamin D3 Gummies (Ages 3+): Link
- Supplement – 7: Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin Link
- Supplement – 8: Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement Link
- Cosmetic – 1: Kora Organics Noni Face Oil Link
- Cosmetic – 2: Fluoride-Free Toothpaste: Orajel Kids Natural Berry Link
- Cosmetic – 3: Miessence Mint Toothpaste Link
- Cosmetic – 4: Dr. Brown’s Fluoride-Free Strawberry Toothpaste Link
- Cosmetic – 5: Low-Fluoride Watermelon Toothpaste for Kids Link
- Cosmetic – 6: Kid’s Spry Xylitol Tooth Gel Link
Note: Lab reports for some products are pending or not yet published as of April 8, 2025. For comprehensive lab results of all tested foods, supplements, and cosmetics, visit this link.
Bonus: Trace Arsenic Levels in Selected Products
Additionally, six products tested positive for trace levels of Arsenic, which are considered safe by all standards. The detection limits are specified in each report:
- Maseca Instant Corn Masa Flour: Product of Mexico. Link
- Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk (non-organic): Available at Target or through European formula suppliers.
- That’s It Apple Cherry Bars: Not organic. Link
- Chosen Foods Organic Avocado Oil: Link
- Now Sunflower Lecithin: Not organic. Link
- WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue: For pregnancy. Link
Note: All affiliate links are used ethically. Purchases made through these links support our ongoing independent testing and advocacy efforts at no extra cost to you.
Final Remarks
Our continuous goal is to promote transparency and safety in consumer products, especially those used by children. We are committed to providing detailed, science-based information and empowering families to make informed decisions. Stay tuned for more updates and new lab reports, as we expand our database of safer, low-toxic products.