Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit: Lead and Mercury Contamination Claims Explained
Active Litigation
Parents are suing Hello Products and Colgate over alleged heavy metals in children's toothpaste — here's what we know.
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What the Lawsuit Alleges
In the Hello Kids toothpaste lawsuit, two class actions (both filed in 2025) allege that Hello Kids toothpastes — sold by Hello Products LLC, owned by Colgate-Palmolive — contain undisclosed dangerous levels of lead and mercury. Independent testing cited in the complaints reportedly found lead from 236 to 658 parts per billion, far above the EPA drinking-water limit of 15 ppb. Plaintiffs allege marketing the products as safe and natural for children while omitting heavy-metal content is consumer fraud.
Case details
Case 1: Browne v. Hello Products LLC, No. 1:25-cv-05698, S.D.N.Y., filed July 11, 2025. Case 2: Barton v. Colgate-Palmolive, S.D. California, filed in 2025 (reported by Law360 on October 23, 2025); reportedly consolidated into Browne in March 2026.
Current Status
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Who Is Affected & Can You Join?
The New York case (Browne) covers New York purchasers of any Hello-branded toothpaste. The California case (Barton) covers California purchasers of Hello Kids varieties (Unicorn Sparkle, Smiling Shark, Dragon Dazzle). A nationwide class has not yet been certified.
Is There a Payout?
How cases like this one end
Our copy of the federal courts’ own case database covers 83,315 other statutory actions casesclosed in U.S. federal district courts between 2015 and 2026, 11.8% of them filed as class actions:
- 25.6% ended in a settlement recorded by the court. Another 22.4% were dismissed voluntarily, which often follows a private settlement — so the real settlement share sits between 25.6% and 47.9%.
- 7.4% were decided on a motion before any trial.
- 1 in 156 reached a trial (0.6%), after a median of 21.8 months.
- Median time from filing to the end of the case: 4.9 months.
- Only 1,756 of them (2.1%) record a money award at all; the median of those is $199,500.
These are base rates for this type of case (federal other statutory actions cases) — not a prediction about this lawsuit, and not legal advice. Source: Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (civil), analysed by Settlement Insight. Cases heard in state courts are not included.
Case Timeline
2023–2024 — Independent Testing Surfaces
Independent testers publish results showing elevated lead and mercury in Hello Kids varieties, sparking consumer concern.
2025 — California Lawsuit Filed
Barton v. Colgate-Palmolive alleges Hello Kids toothpastes contain 236–658 ppb lead — up to 43× the EPA water limit — and that 'natural' marketing misled buyers.
July 11, 2025 — New York Lawsuit Filed
Browne v. Hello Products alleges Hello Kids Dragon Dazzle contained 428 ppb lead (28× the limit) and 11.8 ppb mercury (5× the limit).
2025 — Early Litigation
The New York case proceeds through pleading stages; the California case was reportedly consolidated into it in March 2026. No recall issued; FDA has not issued a mandatory advisory specific to these claims.
2026 — No Settlement Yet
On June 29, 2026, Law360 reported that a Manhattan federal judge trimmed the lead-and-mercury claims against Colgate-Palmolive and dismissed some plaintiffs; class certification has not been decided and no fund has been established.
Court Document
Read the filing yourself. We host a copy of the public court record, free to read and share.
Case: Browne v. Hello Products LLC, No. 1:25-cv-05698 (S.D.N.Y.)
Full docket on CourtListenerAll court documents in our libraryA complaint states one side's allegations; only the court's orders decide anything. Copies of federal court records (PACER) via CourtListener, Free Law Project. Not legal advice.
Scam & Misinformation Warnings
Whenever a brand lawsuit goes viral, scam sites and bad actors follow. Watch for these red flags:
Premature Claim-Form Sites
Some sites already advertise 'Hello toothpaste settlement claim forms.' No settlement exists and no class is certified — do not submit financial information to these sites.
Inflated Payout Estimates
Consumer-product class actions typically yield small per-person recoveries unless there's documented personal injury. No cash amount has been ordered or agreed.
Recall Misinformation
Has Hello toothpaste been recalled? No — there is no Hello toothpaste recall: as of 2026, Hello Products and Colgate have not recalled any toothpaste over these lead and mercury allegations (a separate 2023 voluntary recall concerned fluoride labeling) and no FDA mandatory recall has been issued. Sites claiming an active recall are not reflecting confirmed action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions people ask most about this case.
Is there really lead in Hello Kids toothpaste?
Independent testing cited by plaintiffs found lead between 236 and 658 ppb in several Hello Kids varieties — far above the 15 ppb EPA water limit. Hello and Colgate dispute the significance and have not issued a recall.
Is the Hello toothpaste lawsuit active in 2026?
Yes. The New York case (Browne, filed July 2025) is actively in litigation. A second case, Barton in California (filed 2025), was reportedly consolidated into Browne in March 2026. No settlement or class certification has occurred.
Can I file a claim right now?
No claim form exists yet because there's no settlement and no certified class. You can register interest with plaintiffs' firms to be notified of developments.
Which products are named?
The suits name Hello Kids Dragon Dazzle, Fluoride Free Watermelon, Unicorn Sparkle and Smiling Shark; the New York complaint broadly covers all Hello-branded toothpastes.
Why is lead found in toothpaste?
Lead is not an intentional ingredient; it typically enters via naturally occurring contamination in raw materials. Plaintiffs argue the levels are high enough to require disclosure, making 'natural' marketing false.
Who owns Hello toothpaste?
Hello Products LLC is the brand; Colgate-Palmolive acquired it, which is why both appear in different versions of the litigation — the New York case is captioned Browne v. Hello Products LLC and the California case Barton v. Colgate-Palmolive.
What should I do if I bought it?
There's no current safety recall. If concerned, stop using the product and consult a pediatrician. Keep receipts and packaging photos in case a settlement is eventually reached.
About This Information
- Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology. Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
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This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Lawsuit status, eligibility, and compensation can change. Settlement Insight is not a law firm and does not represent any party. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
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