Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit: Heavy Metals in Kids' Products?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges Hello Products sold children's toothpastes contaminated with dangerous levels of lead and mercury, which were not disclosed to parents.

Consumers Affected: New York residents who purchased Hello-branded toothpaste products.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Brooklyn parent Damany Browne trusted Hello Products' marketing claims about "friendly" and "good-for-you" toothpaste when buying oral care products for children in his household.

Laboratory testing revealed a disturbing reality: Hello Kids Dragon Dazzle toothpaste and Fresh Watermelon-flavored Hello Kids Fluoride Free toothpaste contain lead levels up to 32 times higher than EPA safety limits, along with mercury concentrations far exceeding federal guidelines.

Browne filed a class action lawsuit against Hello Products, alleging the company has concealed dangerous heavy metal contamination while continuing to market children's toothpastes as safe daily-use products for developing minds and bodies.

Testing Reveals Alarmingly High Heavy Metal Concentrations

Consumer safety organization Lead Safe Mama conducted laboratory analysis that exposed shocking contamination levels in Hello-branded children's toothpaste products. According to the lawsuit, Hello Kids Dragon Dazzle toothpaste contained 428.4 parts per billion (ppb) of lead—approximately 28 times the Environmental Protection Agency's established action level.

The same product tested positive for 11.8 ppb of mercury, more than five times the agency's maximum contaminant level for this toxic heavy metal. Fresh Watermelon-flavored Hello Kids Fluoride Free toothpaste showed even worse contamination, with 493 ppb of lead—32 times EPA allowable levels—and 19 ppb of mercury, nine times the federal limit.

These concentrations represent serious health hazards, particularly for children whose developing brains and bodies are especially vulnerable to heavy metal exposure. The lawsuit argues that ingesting even small amounts of these substances can increase cancer risks, cause reproductive complications, and interfere with cognitive development.

"Testing conducted by consumer safety organization Lead Safe Mama revealed that the products contained levels of heavy metals that greatly exceed the EPA's established contaminant limits," the complaint states.

Children Face Heightened Risks from Lead and Mercury Exposure

Browne's lawsuit emphasizes that children are particularly susceptible to harm from heavy metal contamination found in Hello toothpaste products. According to the complaint, developing brains absorb and store lead differently than adult systems, making even low-level exposure potentially damaging to cognitive function and behavioral development.

The lawsuit alleges that regular use of contaminated toothpaste could expose children to cumulative heavy metal doses that exceed safe consumption thresholds established by federal health agencies. Mercury exposure poses additional risks including neurological damage, kidney problems, and developmental delays in growing children.

Parents purchasing Hello Kids products reasonably expect that children's oral care items meet stringent safety standards given their intended use by vulnerable populations. The complaint argues that Hello Products violated this trust by selling contaminated products without adequate testing or warning labels.

Packaging Conceals Contamination Risks from Parents

The lawsuit alleges that Hello Products' packaging and marketing materials make no mention of potential heavy metal contamination, leaving parents unable to make informed decisions about product safety. Browne contends that nowhere on product labels or promotional materials does the company disclose the presence of lead, mercury, or associated health risks.

Instead, Hello Products continues marketing its toothpastes with terms like "friendly," "safe," and "good-for-you" that directly contradict laboratory findings about dangerous contamination levels. The complaint argues that these marketing claims mislead parents into believing the products pose no health hazards to their children.

According to Browne, reasonable consumers would not purchase Hello toothpaste products if they knew about the heavy metal contamination risks. The lawsuit contends that Hello Products deliberately concealed this information to maintain sales and market positioning.

Consumers Allege Protection Violations

Browne's complaint alleges that Hello Products violated consumer protection laws by marketing contaminated products without disclosing known health risks. The lawsuit argues that the company's failure to warn consumers about heavy metal presence constitutes deceptive business practices that harm purchasers.

The case contends that Hello Products knew or should have known about contamination issues but chose to continue selling products without implementing adequate quality control measures. By marketing toothpastes as safe for children while concealing dangerous contamination, the company allegedly engaged in fraudulent conduct.

Parents rely on product labels and marketing claims when selecting oral care items for their families, making truthful disclosure especially important for children's products. The lawsuit argues that Hello Products exploited this trust by withholding material safety information.

Other Companies Faces Growing Contamination Concerns

Manufacturers are defending similar lawsuits over heavy metal contamination in products marketed to health-conscious consumers. Celtic Ocean International recently faced litigation over sea salt products containing dangerous levels of lead and arsenic despite marketing claims about quality and health benefits.

In the Hello Toothpaste lead contamination class action lawsuit, Browne wants to represent all New York residents who purchased Hello-branded toothpaste products during the applicable statute of limitations period. The proposed class could include thousands of parents who bought these products for their children based on safety representations.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate consumers who paid for products they believed were safe but actually contained dangerous contamination levels. Browne also requests injunctive relief to prevent Hello Products from continuing to sell contaminated toothpastes without adequate warnings.

His complaint demands that the company implement proper testing protocols and disclose contamination risks so parents can make informed decisions about children's oral care products.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Browne v. Hello Products Inc.
• Case Number: 7:25-cv-05698 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Victoria J. Maniatis, Alexander E. Wolf, and William J. Edelman (Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC)

Do you use Hello Kids toothpaste? What are your concerns about heavy metal contamination in children's oral care products? Share your thoughts below.