Colgate Hello Kids Toothpaste Lawsuit 2026, What Every Parent Needs to Know About the Lead Allegations

As of March 2026, there is no FDA recall of Hello Kids toothpaste for lead contamination. What exists are two active class action lawsuits — filed in California and New York courts in 2025 — alleging that independent laboratory testing found lead levels between 236 and 658 parts per billion in multiple Hello Kids varieties. Colgate-Palmolive disputes the claims and states its products comply with all regulatory requirements. The lawsuits are ongoing. No findings of liability have been made.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Primary Case	Barton, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Co.
Court	U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Case Number	3:25-cv-02833
Date Filed	October 22, 2025
Second Case	Browne v. Hello Products LLC — Southern District of New York
Third Case	Brower v. Colgate-Palmolive — Southern District of New York (Hagens Berman)
Defendants	Colgate-Palmolive Company; Hello Products LLC
Lead Levels Alleged	236–658 parts per billion — up to 6x the FDA’s 100 ppb guidance for candy
FDA Recall Issued?	No — confirmed as of March 2026
Is There a Claim Form?	No — no settlement exists yet
Colgate’s Position	Products are safe and comply with all regulatory requirements
Settlement Status	Active litigation only — no settlement
Plaintiffs’ Attorneys	KamberLaw LLP (Barton); Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP (Brower)

Which Hello Kids Products Are Named in the Lawsuit?

This is the first thing every parent wants to know. The lawsuit specifically names the following Hello Kids toothpaste varieties:

The lawsuit focuses on Colgate’s “hello kids” toothpaste line, including:

• Unicorn Sparkle — fluoride and fluoride-free versions
• Dragon Dazzle
• Magical Mermaid
• Fresh Watermelon
• Smiling Shark
• Wild Strawberry

The front label of Colgate’s kids fluoride toothpaste states it is for “kids ages 2+” and the fluoride-free version states it is for “kids all ages.” Both versions are named. The Hagens Berman case also covers Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste and Colgate Watermelon Burst for kids alongside the Hello Kids line.

If your child uses any of these products — keep reading for what the science says, what Colgate says, and what steps you should take right now.

What Do the Lawsuits Actually Allege?

The Lead Contamination Claims

According to the complaint, every tested variety of the Hello Kids toothpaste contained measurable levels of lead ranging from 236 to 658 parts per billion. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not set a formal limit for lead in toothpaste, its guidance for other products aimed at children — such as candy and baby food — recommends limits of 100 parts per billion.

“The amount of lead in the Products far exceeds any amount that would be considered safe for children; indeed, many pediatricians and toxicologists agree that no level of lead exposure is safe for children,” the complaint states.

Why Toothpaste Is Different From Other Products

The complaint also warns that even when not swallowed, exposure to lead in toothpaste can pose serious health risks — since the oral tissues, particularly under the tongue and inside the cheeks, can absorb heavy metals directly into the bloodstream. This is the key reason the complaint treats toothpaste differently from, say, a toy with lead paint — children brush twice a day, every day, and absorption can occur even without swallowing.

The Deceptive Marketing Angle

The suit argues that Colgate’s product design is intentionally appealing to children — using colorful packaging, characters such as unicorns and sharks, and flavors resembling candy or fruit. At the same time, the boxes advertise phrases like “natural flavor,” “no artificial sweeteners,” and “no dyes.”

Plaintiffs argue that label representations are “likely to lead reasonable consumers of Defendant’s Products to believe that they are purchasing a premium toothpaste that is designed and safe for use by children.” That implied safety promise — combined with the alleged undisclosed lead — is the core of the consumer protection claims.

The Heavy Metals Case — Beyond Lead

On May 28, 2025, Hagens Berman filed an amended complaint against Colgate-Palmolive following additional testing of multiple Colgate-brand toothpaste products, all of which were found to have elevated heavy metal levels. Testing found elevated levels of lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium — all documented neurotoxins — in Colgate products including those specifically made and sold for children.

What Is Colgate Saying?

Colgate-Palmolive publicly stated in early 2026 that its products are safe and comply with all relevant regulatory requirements for cosmetic oral care. The company notes that heavy metals such as lead occur naturally in the earth and can appear as trace contaminants in mineral-based ingredients.

This is Colgate’s core defense — that trace levels of naturally occurring heavy metals in mineral-based ingredients are unavoidable, fall within accepted industry norms, and do not constitute a health risk at the levels present in their products. The company has not admitted any wrongdoing and has not recalled any Hello Kids products.

No court has ruled on whether the lead levels alleged in the lawsuits pose a health risk or violate any law. No finding of liability against Colgate has been made.

Related article: Home Depot Overcharging Lawsuit 2026, Shoppers Sue Over Prices That Ring Up Higher Than the Shelf Tag

Is There an FDA Recall on Hello Kids Toothpaste?

No. The FDA has not issued a recall or safety warning specifically for Hello Kids toothpaste for lead or mercury contamination as of March 2026.

There is one separate, confirmed Hello-brand recall worth knowing about — but it is unrelated to lead. In 2023, Hello issued a voluntary recall for fluoride-free tubes that actually contained sodium fluoride. That recall is separate from the lead allegations and has been resolved.

There is also a confirmed 2026 recall parents should know about: ORL Kids Natural Toothpaste and ORL Kids Mouthwash were recalled January 5, 2026 by the FDA for manufacturing quality deviations. Distribution was limited to Arizona. This is a different brand and product — not Hello Kids — but relevant for Arizona parents.

What Laws Are Allegedly Violated?

The suit alleges that Colgate’s actions violate three major California consumer protection laws — the Unfair Competition Law, the False Advertising Law, and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. For a full plain-English breakdown of what the Consumer Legal Remedies Act means for consumers and what it allows parents to recover, see our Consumer Legal Remedies Act guide.

The Hagens Berman case adds federal consumer protection claims and brings similar state law claims in New York, covering consumers who purchased affected products nationwide.

Who May Be Affected?

You may have a potential claim if:

• You purchased any variety of Colgate Hello Kids toothpaste — fluoride or fluoride-free — at any point in the past four years
• You purchased Colgate Watermelon Burst kids toothpaste or Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste
• You are a California consumer (Barton case), New York consumer (Browne/Brower cases), or consumer in other states under Hagens Berman’s expanding investigation
• You suffered economic harm by purchasing a product you would not have bought had you known it contained lead — note that the California case does not require proof of physical injury

No claim form exists yet. Save all receipts, purchase records, and screenshots of the products you bought. These will matter if a settlement is reached.

What Should Parents Do Right Now?

Here is the practical guidance pediatric dental experts and consumer safety advocates consistently recommend when a product is under active litigation but not yet recalled:

1. Switch products as a precaution. Switching to an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste with no active lead litigation is the safest and most clinically supported choice while litigation continues. This does not mean your child has been harmed — it means removing the uncertainty while the science is tested in court.
2. Do not panic. No government health agency has issued a warning or recall. The lead levels alleged, while above FDA candy guidance, have not been assessed by the FDA specifically in the context of toothpaste exposure.
3. Talk to your pediatrician if you have specific concerns about your child’s lead exposure history — particularly if they have been regular Hello Kids users for an extended period.
4. Save your receipts. Any purchase records, Amazon orders, or store receipts for Hello Kids products are worth keeping for potential future claim purposes.
5. File a complaint if concerned. You can report concerns about this product to the FDA at fda.gov/safety/medwatch and to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

What Happens Next?

• Discovery continues. Both courts are in active pre-trial proceedings. Colgate will be required to produce internal testing records, ingredient sourcing documents, and marketing communications.
• Hagens Berman’s investigation is expanding. Hagens Berman is investigating all Colgate-Palmolive toothpaste products which were allegedly found to have elevated levels of heavy metals, with ongoing testing of additional products.
• Class certification is the next milestone. A federal judge must certify the class before the case can proceed as a group action. Until then, these remain proposed class actions.
• No settlement timeline exists. There is no deadline for toothpaste claims yet as no settlement exists. A settlement, if reached, could be years away.
• Texas AG watching closely. Following its investigation into fluoride overuse marketing, the Texas Attorney General has issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Crest and is investigating the company for similar concerns. Regulatory pressure is building independently of the private lawsuits.

This page will be updated as the case develops.

For a broader look at all active Colgate lawsuits — including the fluoride overuse case, the pension settlement, and the bacteria contamination claims — see our complete Colgate class action lawsuit overview. Parents concerned about Tom’s of Maine products — also owned by Colgate — should review our separate Tom’s of Maine toothpaste lawsuit article covering the bacteria contamination and lead allegations specific to that brand.

Important Case Dates

Milestone	Date
Barton v. Colgate Filed	October 22, 2025
Hagens Berman Amended Complaint	May 28, 2025
Browne v. Hello Products Filed	July 2025
Class Certification Hearing	TBD
Claim Filing Deadline	TBD — no settlement yet
Trial Date (if set)	TBD
Settlement (if reached)	TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colgate Hello Kids toothpaste safe to use in March 2026? 

The FDA has not issued a recall or safety warning for Hello Kids toothpaste as of March 2026. Colgate states its products comply with all regulatory requirements. Two active class action lawsuits allege independent lab testing found lead levels above FDA candy guidance thresholds — but no court has ruled on these claims. Out of precaution, many pediatric dentists recommend switching to an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste while litigation is ongoing.

How much lead was allegedly found in Hello Kids toothpaste?

 According to the complaint, every tested variety of the toothpaste contained measurable levels of lead ranging from 236 to 658 parts per billion — more than six times higher than the FDA’s 100 ppb limit for lead in candy likely to be consumed by small children. The FDA has not set a specific limit for toothpaste — the candy limit is the closest applicable reference point cited in the complaint.

Is there a recall on Colgate Hello Kids toothpaste? 

No. The FDA has not issued a recall specifically for Hello Kids toothpaste for lead contamination as of March 2026. A separate 2023 Hello Products recall for a mislabeled fluoride-free product has been fully resolved and is unrelated to the lead allegations.

Can I file a claim against Colgate right now?

 No. There is no open settlement claim form for any of the Hello Kids lead lawsuits as of March 2026. The cases are in active litigation. Save your purchase records now — they will be needed if a settlement is reached. Any website claiming you can file a claim for this specific lawsuit right now should be treated with caution.

Do I need a lawyer to join this lawsuit? 

No. If a class is certified and a settlement is reached, eligible consumers receive notice directly and can file a claim without their own attorney. If your child suffered a documented health injury you believe is related to lead exposure, consult a product liability attorney individually — personal injury claims are handled differently from the consumer class action.

What is Colgate’s explanation for the lead found in testing? 

Colgate states that heavy metals such as lead occur naturally in the earth and can appear as trace contaminants in mineral-based ingredients. The company maintains that its products are safe and comply with all relevant regulatory requirements. No court has evaluated whether this explanation is sufficient under California or New York consumer protection law.

Last Updated: March 21, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.