A Personal Note from Tamara Rubin:
After conducting rigorous laboratory testing, the results for this particular children’s toothpaste are, unfortunately, disappointing—yet not entirely surprising given the current landscape of heavy metal contamination in consumer products. Our extensive testing consistently reveals that many toothpastes and tooth powders contain detectable levels of toxicants, especially heavy metals like Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Arsenic. We anticipated this product would test positive for Lead at even higher concentrations, and we plan to pursue additional testing to confirm whether these levels are consistent across the brand.
In light of these findings, we will be reporting this product to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), especially since it is marketed directly to children—a vulnerable population. We strongly encourage consumers who have used this product, or whose children have tested positive for Lead during its use, to submit complaints to the FDA. Your reports are crucial for regulatory action. You can file a complaint through this FDA complaint portal. Please include any relevant details, including if your child has experienced Lead poisoning symptoms while using this product.
Below is an image listing the ingredients of this product. While our primary concern has been Bentonite clay—known for contamination with bioavailable heavy metals and often promoted as a detoxifying agent—we are also investigating other ingredients such as Calcium Carbonate, Xylitol, and Hydroxyapatite for potential heavy metal contamination. To better understand the contribution of these ingredients, we will be conducting separate tests on each.
Important Regulatory Context: The toxicant levels found in this children’s toothpaste do not violate current legal standards. Since fluoride-free toothpastes and powders are classified as cosmetics in the U.S., the federal legal limit for Lead in these products is set at 10,000 parts per billion (ppb). However, the upcoming Washington State law, effective January 2025, imposes a stricter limit of 1,000 ppb (1 ppm). Our ongoing testing suggests many bentonite-based toothpastes will fail to meet this new standard.
Recognizing that health authorities agree there is no safe threshold for Lead exposure—particularly for children—we hope our data will catalyze stronger federal regulation. Our initiative aims to illuminate the contamination levels in common products and advocate for stricter safety standards for children’s oral care items.
- To access all laboratory reports for foods, supplements, and cosmetic products tested by our team, click here.
The complete lab report for this product is available at the bottom of this page.
For safer nutritional options, visit our dedicated food and supplement safety page. We also feature a list of safer snack options for families seeking to minimize toxicant exposure. Our latest curated list of 49 tested foods and supplements is regularly updated and accessible here.
If you wish to support independent, crowd-funded testing efforts, please consider visiting our GoFundMe campaigns. Your contributions help us continue our vital work in consumer safety and Lead poisoning prevention.
Introduction for New Visitors:
Tamara Rubin is a recognized advocate dedicated to preventing childhood Lead poisoning and ensuring consumer product safety. As a mother whose children suffered from Lead poisoning in 2005, her personal experience fuels her advocacy. She is also a filmmaker and founder of Lead Safe Mama, LLC—a woman-owned small business committed to community-driven initiatives that promote safer consumer goods.
- Since July 2022, her organization has contributed to six product recalls involving FDA and CPSC.
- All testing results shared here are grounded in scientific accuracy and reproducibility.
- Visit our press page for media coverage and additional information about our work.
This article is free of advertising.
Support the continuation of our independent testing and advocacy efforts through affiliate shopping links or donations. To contribute directly, click here. Thank you for your support.
Understanding Action Levels in Toxicant Regulation:
Key points to note:
The original laboratory report is located below this section.
The graphic above displays detected metal levels (in red), detection thresholds (orange and green), and the proposed 2021 Action Levels (blue) by health authorities for heavy metals in children’s products. These levels are designed to be protective of human health.
-
Action Levels are not Maximum Permissible Limits but indicators where health authorities recommend intervention if exceeded.
-
Many manufacturers interpret guidance as allowing certain levels of heavy metals, ignoring the consensus that any presence of Lead is potentially harmful, especially for children.
-
Heavy metals accumulate over time, causing lasting harm even at low exposure levels. This is why cumulative exposure matters.
-
Products testing at or above these Action Levels are considered unsafe for children—posing significant health risks.
-
Unlike serving size-based standards, Action Levels apply regardless of how much of a product is consumed, making them more protective of health.
-
PPB (parts per billion) measurements are applicable to any quantity of a product ingested or used.
-
Relying solely on serving sizes can be misleading and underestimate actual toxicant exposure.
Proposed Action Levels from 2021 are intended as a call for industry change, urging reduction of toxicant levels or product recalls when thresholds are exceeded.
Despite the legislation not being enacted, these guidelines reflect current scientific consensus and are achievable, as demonstrated by numerous products that tested non-detect for heavy metals—some with detection limits below 1.5 ppb.
Below is an expanding list of foods and supplements that have tested free from detectable heavy metals in independent, third-party laboratories, managed by Lead Safe Mama, LLC. The detection limits for each metal are noted in the respective reports. To view full reports, search the product name on our website.
Updated List as of January 26, 2025 – Now 49 Products!
- Baby Food: Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
- Baby Food: Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
- Baby Food: Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
- Baby Food: Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
- Baby Food: Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
- Beverages: Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink – Amazon Link
- Beverages: Olipop Grape Tonic – Amazon Link
- Breakfast Items: Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs – Amazon Link
- Breakfast Items: One Degree Organic Gluten-Free Sprouted Rolled Oats (Canada) – Amazon Link
- Candy: Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA) – Amazon Link
- Candy: Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops (Germany) – Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea: Chameleon Organic Cold Brew Concentrate – Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea: Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (from Japan) – Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea: Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew – Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea: Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee – Amazon Link
- Coffee Creamers (Plant-Based): Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer – Amazon Link
- Dairy Creamers: Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half – Amazon Link
- Cheese: Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese – Amazon Link
- Fruit Snacks: GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch – Amazon Link
- Fruit Snacks: Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch – Amazon Link
- Fruit Snacks: Organic Layered Fruit Bars (Strawberry Banana) – Amazon Link
- Fruit Snacks: Dairy-Free Strawberry Banana Smoothie Pouch – Amazon Link
- Fruit Snacks: Raspberry Lemonade Layered Fruit Bars – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: Bobbie Organic Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: ByHeart Infant Formula – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula Stage 1 – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months) – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: Holle Bio Goat Stage 2 Infant Formula – Amazon Link
- Infant Formula: Kendamil Goat Infant Formula – Available at Target
- Infant Formula: Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk – Not available on Amazon
- Infant Formula: Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula – Available at Target
- Infant Formula: Kendamil Organic Cow Milk Infant Formula – Available at Target
- Ingredient (Salt): Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA) – Amazon Link
- Ingredient (Flour): Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy) – Amazon Link
- Ingredient (Seeds): Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds – Amazon Link
- Ingredient (Seeds): Navitas Organic Chia Seeds (Mexico) – Amazon Link
- Ingredient (Beans): Jovial Organic Chickpeas (Italy) – Amazon Link
- Oil: Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic) – Amazon Link
- Oil: Dr. Adorable Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea) – Amazon Link
- Oil: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Coconut Oil – Amazon Link
- Plant-Based Milk: Kiki Organic Plant-Based Milk – Amazon Link
- Plant-Based Milk: West Soy Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk – Amazon Link
- Supplements: Baby Ddrops Organic Vitamin D3 for Babies – Amazon Link
- Supplements: Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C – Amazon Link
- Supplements: Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil – Amazon Link
- Supplements: Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin with Iron – Amazon Link
- Supplements: Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement – Amazon Link
For detailed lab reports on all tested foods and supplements, visit: https://tamararubin.com/2024/05/food-articles/. Stay tuned for more updates and expanded testing results.
Bonus: Five Additional Products with Trace Arsenic Levels
- Infant Formula: Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk (non-organic) – traces of Arsenic
- Fruit Snack: That’s It Apple Cherry Bars (non-organic) – Amazon Link
- Oil: Chosen Foods Organic Avocado Oil – Amazon Link
- Supplement: Now Sunflower Lecithin (non-organic) – Amazon Link
- Supplement: WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue – Amazon Link
Note: Amazon links are affiliate links, supporting our work at no extra cost to you.
Published: February 6, 2025
Please scroll down to view the detailed laboratory report for the product shown above. Thank you for your commitment to consumer safety and informed choices.
Additional Considerations:
- Currently, there are very few safe, scientifically-backed thresholds for heavy metal contamination in foods and dietary supplements for adults or the general population in the U.S.
- Existing proposed safety limits do not adequately account for real-world consumption patterns or cumulative exposure, especially in children.
- Our primary concern remains the health and safety of children, who are more vulnerable to toxicants.
- Applying standards from the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021 across all food and supplement categories aligns with the scientific consensus that no level of Lead exposure is entirely safe.
- Since children eat what adults eat, restricting products solely based on marketed demographic is unwise; all ingested products should meet the same strict safety standards.
- Remember: There is no safe level of Lead exposure for humans—this is a universally agreed-upon fact in medical and scientific communities.
For a testing kit similar to the one used by our laboratory, visit the Amazon affiliate link. To explore more about our work, check out the articles and reports linked on our site.