The Hello toothpaste lawsuit is a proposed class action saying some Hello Kids toothpastes contain lead and mercury that the labels never mention. It was filed in July 2025 in federal court in New York, and Hello has not been found liable.
- What Is the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit?
- Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit at a Glance
- Does Hello Toothpaste Have Lead?
- Who Makes Hello Toothpaste?
- Where Does the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit Stand in 2026?
- The Hello Case (Browne)
- The Related Colgate Case (Brower v. Colgate-Palmolive Co.)
- What Each Outcome Would Mean
- Are There Other Hello Product Lawsuits?
- Has Hello Toothpaste Been Recalled?
- What Does the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit Mean for Real Families?
- Can I Join the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit?
- Is Hello Toothpaste Safe for Kids? What Parents Can Do Now
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Kids brush twice a day for years, so parents are right to ask what is in the tube. This guide covers what the case claims, what it has not proven, and where it stands now. It also explains a June 2026 ruling that many websites mix up with this case.
What Is the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit?
The Hello toothpaste lawsuit is a proposed class action, Browne v. Hello Products LLC, filed July 11, 2025, in federal court in New York. It claims Hello Kids toothpastes contained lead and mercury that labels never disclosed. Hello has not been found liable, and the claims are unproven allegations.
Plaintiff Damany Browne, a New York consumer, sued Hello Products LLC. His lawyers are at Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC. A “proposed class action” means one person sues for a whole group, but a judge has not yet agreed the group can move forward together.
Picture a mom in Rochester who sees the headline on her phone while a tube of Dragon Dazzle sits in her bathroom. What has she learned? Only that a lawsuit exists. She has not learned that the toothpaste is unsafe, because no court has said so.
The 35-page complaint says Hello marketed the products as “friendly,” safe and good for you. It argues buyers would have skipped them had they known the risks. It also says heavy metal exposure can raise the risk of certain cancers, reproductive problems and learning and development issues. Those health claims belong to the plaintiff, not to a court.
See also: HexClad Lawsuit
Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Case name | Browne v. Hello Products LLC |
| Case number | 7:25-cv-05698 (docketed as 25 Civ. 5698) |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York |
| Judge (early order) | Analisa Torres |
| Filed | July 11, 2025 |
| Plaintiff | Damany Browne, a New York consumer |
| Defendant | Hello Products LLC (a Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary) |
| Plaintiff’s counsel | Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC |
| Products named | Hello Kids Dragon Dazzle; Hello Kids Fluoride Free “Fresh Watermelon” |
| Claims | Breach of warranty; New York consumer protection law |
| Relief sought | Class certification, damages, fees and costs, jury trial |
| Proposed class | People in New York who bought Hello-brand toothpaste |
| Status | Pending. No ruling, class certification or settlement found as of Nov. 4, 2026 |
Want to follow the case yourself? Search the docket by the case number, not by “Hello toothpaste.” Hello Products is named in several unrelated cases, so a name search can send you to the wrong one. You can also read the full complaint.
Does Hello Toothpaste Have Lead?
The lawsuit says independent testing found lead and mercury in two Hello Kids products. Dragon Dazzle allegedly tested at 428.4 ppb of lead and 11.8 ppb of mercury. Fresh Watermelon allegedly tested at 493 ppb of lead and 19 ppb of mercury. No court has confirmed these results.
The Test Results
The numbers come from the consumer group Lead Safe Mama, not from a court or a government lab.
| Product | Lead (ppb) | Mercury (ppb) | Lead vs. EPA’s 15 ppb | Mercury vs. EPA’s 2 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello Kids Dragon Dazzle | 428.4 | 11.8 | about 28.6x | about 5.9x |
| Hello Kids Fresh Watermelon | 493 | 19 | about 32.9x | about 9.5x |
ppb = parts per billion. The multiples are our own math from the figures in the complaint. Other sites round them down.
Why the EPA Comparison Needs Context
Say a parent sees a social post shouting “32 times the legal limit.” That sounds like a toothpaste rule was broken. It wasn’t, and here’s why.
The complaint compares the results to EPA numbers: 15 ppb for lead and 2 ppb for mercury. Those are drinking water numbers. Toothpaste is regulated as an over-the-counter product by the FDA. The comparison is the plaintiff’s argument, not a legal limit for toothpaste.
There is a second detail most articles miss. For lead, EPA’s 15 ppb is an action level, not a hard ceiling. It measures how well a water system controls corrosion, and it triggers action when more than 10% of tap samples go over it. EPA’s real health goal for lead is zero, because no safe level has been identified. Mercury’s 2 ppb is a drinking-water maximum for inorganic mercury. The EPA Lead and Copper Rule fact sheet explains the lead rules.
Putting the Numbers in Scale
Here is our own back-of-the-envelope math. The American Dental Association says a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is about 0.25 grams. At 428.4 ppb, that dab would hold roughly 0.1 microgram of lead, even if a child swallowed all of it. This assumes the test results are by weight.
That is not a safety verdict. The CDC says no safe blood lead level has been identified in children, and lead adds up with other sources. Your pediatrician is the right person to say what it means for your child.
The Legal Theories
The complaint relies on breach of warranty and New York consumer protection law, reported as the state’s General Business Law. The plaintiff also says Hello knew about the risk and failed to warn buyers. The complaint argues that toothpaste used daily can be swallowed or absorbed.
The key statute is N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 349. The older version of the text barred “deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any business, trade or commerce.” A person who is harmed can sue for actual damages or $50, whichever is greater.
New York has since broadened the law to cover “unfair, deceptive, or abusive” acts, with changes taking effect February 17, 2026. Browne was filed before that date. Whether the new wording affects it is a question for the court.
See also: Costco Sonoma County Lawsuit
Who Makes Hello Toothpaste?
Hello toothpaste is made by Hello Products LLC, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. Colgate took a stake in the company in 2017, and one report says it bought the rest in 2020. That is why news about these cases often names Colgate.
If you picked Hello because it looked like a small, natural brand, the Colgate name may come as a surprise. Nothing about the packaging shouts “big company.” Hello built its image on “natural,” vegan, kid-friendly oral care. One report says the company started around 2009 to 2011 and reached Target and Walmart shelves by 2013, though we could not confirm those early dates with a primary source.
See also: Buc-ee’s and Teddy’s Market Lawsuit
Where Does the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit Stand in 2026?
As of November 4, 2026, we found no final ruling, class certification decision or settlement in Browne v. Hello Products. A related Colgate toothpaste case, Brower, saw some claims dismissed in June 2026, but it is a different lawsuit. Check the court docket for the latest.
The Hello Case (Browne)
The case began with paperwork. Days after filing, the judge ordered the plaintiff to state where each of the company’s members is a citizen, so the court could confirm it had jurisdiction. You can read that order on CourtListener. The latest entry on the docket, dated August 6, 2026, is Hello’s reply brief supporting its motion to dismiss, filed after the plaintiff’s opposition on July 16, 2026. As of November 4, 2026, we found no ruling on that motion.
The Related Colgate Case (Brower v. Colgate-Palmolive Co.)
Many sites blur this case with the Hello one. Say you google the lawsuit and find a story saying a judge “trimmed” a lead toothpaste case in June 2026. Check the case name. If it says Brower, that is the Colgate case, not Hello.
Brower (No. 1:25-cv-03348) is a separate Manhattan class action over Colgate-branded toothpastes. On June 25, 2026, the judge dismissed claims that Colgate failed to disclose heavy metals, because federal drug-labeling law preempts them. Preemption means federal law overrides a state-law claim.
The court also let claims that packaging and marketing overstated the products’ safety move forward. Some plaintiffs were dismissed for not tying the lab testing to the products they actually bought. Law360 reported the ruling, and Dechert published a legal analysis.
This ruling is not a decision in the Hello case. A different judge may see it differently.
What Each Outcome Would Mean
| Outcome | What it means for buyers |
|---|---|
| Dismissal | The case ends or shrinks. Buyers get nothing from it. |
| Class certification | The judge lets the group proceed together. No money yet. |
| Settlement | Eligible buyers may get notice and a claim form. |
| Trial verdict | A jury decides liability and damages. This is rare. |
See also: Oregon Voter Data Lawsuit Dismissed
Are There Other Hello Product Lawsuits?
Yes. The Hello Products lawsuit history includes separate suits over charcoal toothpaste, “no artificial sweeteners” labels, and Hello Kids Fluoride Rinse. These cases involve different claims from the lead and mercury case.
Here is how they get confused. A parent searches “Hello toothpaste lawsuit settlement” and finds a report of a $1.5 million payout. They assume the lead claims were paid out. They were not. That figure was reported for the charcoal toothpaste case.
| Date | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Colgate takes a stake in Hello | Per one report |
| 2019–2022 | Charcoal toothpaste suit | Buyers said it harmed teeth. One report cites a $1.5 million settlement. Sources disagree on the year. |
| Dec. 2023 | “No artificial sweeteners” suit (Flaherty v. Hello Products) | Illinois. The claim points to sorbitol and xylitol in the products. |
| 2023–2025 | Fluoride rinse suits | Parents said flavors and packaging drew kids in. The suits cite guidance that kids under six should not use fluoride rinse. One report says core claims advanced March 30, 2026. |
| July 11, 2025 | Browne filed | Lead and mercury |
| June 25, 2026 | Brower ruling | Colgate case, not Hello |
Other brands have faced similar suits. ClassAction.org has also covered cases against Tom’s of Maine over children’s toothpaste and lead, and Risewell over PFAS in kids’ toothpaste. The Hello cases share a pattern: false advertising, harmful ingredients and lack of warnings.
See also: Samsung S22 Software Update Lawsuit
Has Hello Toothpaste Been Recalled?
We found no announced recall of Hello toothpaste tied to the lead and mercury claims. We also found no FDA safety notice about these allegations. A lawsuit is not a recall. Check the FDA’s recalls page and Hello’s website before relying on this answer.
A recall is a company or regulator pulling a product from shelves. A lawsuit is a request for a court to decide who is responsible. They can happen together, but one does not cause the other.
Here is a habit worth building. Next time you buy a tube, snap a photo of the flavor, the lot number and the receipt. If a recall ever happens, notices usually name specific lots, and you will know in seconds whether yours is covered.
See also: CP4 Fuel Pump Silverado and Sierra Lawsuit
What Does the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit Mean for Real Families?
It depends on where you live, where you bought the toothpaste, and when. A New York parent who bought Hello Kids toothpaste may fall inside the proposed class. A parent in another state likely does not, but may have other options. Neither needs to act today beyond saving records.
Scenario 1. A parent in Buffalo bought Dragon Dazzle for a six-year-old over two years and kept no receipts. They could still be in the proposed class, but proof matters if a settlement comes. Photos of the packaging and a card statement can help.
Scenario 2. A parent in Ohio bought the same product. The Browne class is limited to New York, so they likely are not in it. A consumer-protection attorney in Ohio could look at that state’s laws.
Common mistakes:
- Throwing away the tube and receipts.
- Stopping fluoride entirely without asking a dentist.
- Assuming a payout is guaranteed.
- Treating a lawsuit as proof of a recall.
See also: Life360 Lawsuit
Can I Join the Hello Toothpaste Lawsuit?
You usually do not sign up for a class action when it is filed. If a class is certified and a settlement follows, eligible people get notice and a claim form. The Browne class is limited to New York purchasers, so buyers in other states may not qualify.
Who Qualifies
The proposed class covers people in New York who bought Hello-brand toothpaste during the legal time period. Class definitions can change as a case moves along. Readers on other sites often ask to be “added” after years of use. There is no list to join right now. ClassAction.org explains how to join a class action when one opens.
Time Limits
A statute of limitations is a deadline to sue. In the related Colgate case, Colgate argued that New York’s three-year limit should bar claims for purchases before 2022. That was an argument in another case, and deadlines vary by claim and state.
Here is how it could play out. Say someone bought Hello Kids in New York in early 2021, and a settlement is reached in 2027. A defendant might argue that purchase is too old to count. Ask an attorney how this applies to you.
What Payouts Look Like
No settlement fund exists for the Hello lead case. In general, class payouts are small, often partial refunds or modest checks. One competitor reports checks of about $5 to $50, and we could not verify that range. Larger awards usually need proof of real harm.
Steps to Take Now
- Save packaging, lot numbers and receipts.
- Write down when and where you bought the product.
- Check the court docket for updates.
- Talk to a licensed attorney about your situation.
See also: Google Android Cellular Data Lawsuit
Is Hello Toothpaste Safe for Kids? What Parents Can Do Now
No court has decided whether Hello Kids toothpaste is unsafe, and the lawsuit’s claims are allegations. If you are worried, keep the product and receipt, and ask your child’s dentist or pediatrician. Follow the label and ADA dosing guidance. Do not stop fluoride without professional advice.
The CDC says no safe blood lead level has been identified in children. It uses a reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter to flag kids whose levels are higher than most. Health officials say a blood test is the best way to find out if a child was exposed, so ask your pediatrician whether testing makes sense.
On amounts, the American Dental Association recommends a rice-grain smear until age 3, then a pea-sized amount from ages 3 to 6. Adults should supervise so kids spit rather than swallow.
Think of a four-year-old who squeezes a long ribbon across the brush. That is far more than a pea-sized dab, and more paste means more swallowed. The simplest fix costs nothing: you load the brush, not the child. If a child swallows a large amount, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
You can also report a product problem to the FDA through its MedWatch reporting page. The FDA says reports are recorded and compared against similar ones, and together they can signal a safety problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Hello toothpaste lawsuit real?
Yes. Browne v. Hello Products LLC is a federal court case in the Southern District of New York. The claims are allegations only.
2. Does Hello toothpaste contain lead?
The suit cites independent testing that reported lead in two Hello Kids products, at 428.4 and 493 ppb. No court has confirmed those results.
3. Is there a Hello toothpaste recall?
We found no announced recall tied to these claims. Check the FDA and Hello for the latest.
4. Is there a Hello toothpaste settlement?
Not that we found. No fund or claim form exists for the lead and mercury case.
5. Who can join the Hello toothpaste class action?
The proposed class covers people in New York who bought Hello-brand toothpaste. People elsewhere may have other options. Ask a consumer-protection attorney in your state.
6. Is Hello toothpaste owned by Colgate?
Yes. Hello Products is a Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary.
7. What is the difference between Browne and Brower?
Browne targets Hello Products. Brower targets Colgate-branded toothpastes and had claims dismissed in June 2026. They are separate cases.
8. Is Hello toothpaste safe for kids?
Courts have not decided that. Talk to your child’s dentist or pediatrician, and follow the ADA’s dosing guidance.
Conclusion
The Hello toothpaste lawsuit claims two Hello Kids toothpastes had lead and mercury that labels never mentioned. The claims are unproven, no recall has been announced, and the case is still pending in New York. A June 2026 ruling in a related Colgate case shows how tough these claims can be, but it does not decide the Hello case.
If you bought Hello Kids toothpaste and want to understand your options, speak with a licensed consumer-protection attorney in your state. If you are worried about your child’s health, talk to your pediatrician.
Disclaimer: This is general information only and not a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The cases described are ongoing and the allegations are unproven.
