Testing Davids Premium Toothpaste (Natural Peppermint Flavor) for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, & Arsenic using Truly Independent (Community-Funded), Third-Party, Laboratory Testing

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Published: March 9, 2025 — Sunday
A Quick Note from Tamara Rubin:

This Davids Premium Toothpaste in Natural Peppermint flavor (pictured above) tested positive for both Lead and Arsenic — each at levels that are higher than many of the other toothpaste products we have tested.  The low threshold of detection for both Cadmium and Mercury in this particular report is not low enough for us to know if there may also be a Mercury or Cadmium concern with this product (or not). Please scroll down to see both the shareable social media graphic with the test results and also the full original lab report for this product (the lab report is at the very bottom of this article). Our comparative chart for toothpaste and tooth powder products, which has been updated to nclude this product, is directly above.

As always (to repeat what has become a bit of a mantra here at Lead Safe Mama, LLC): All federal agencies agree there is no safe level of Lead exposure for human beings (especially pregnant women and children). Serving size does not matter when we are talking about toxicants as potent and dangerous as Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury. Lead and other heavy metals bioaccumulate in the body over time — especially with persistent, chronic/ daily exposure. When a product is positive for unsafe levels of toxicants (heavy metals)and  is used daily, two or three times a day, for YEARS by the same individual (as many toothpastes are), the presence of toxicants in that product becomes a very real risk to the user. The fact that there is an oral ingestion pathway with toothpastes is also — of course — extra concerning (vs. other non-oral-use cosmetic products).

Please scroll to the bottom of the page to see the full original lab report for this product. For more context related to any of the levels on the chart below, please refer to our earlier toothpaste articles as well as this page, which will always have the most recent update of our comparative chart with test results for all of the toothpaste and tooth powder products we have tested to date (this is a good page to bookmark and check back o periodically)!

The Levels of Toxicants Found in this Toothpaste are 100% LEGAL

The levels of toxicants we found in this toothpaste are NOT illegal.

Fluoride-free toothpaste is classified by the FDA as a cosmetic product. Cosmetic products are legally allowed to have up to 10,000 parts per billion (ppb) Lead in them (10,000 ppb is the same as 10 ppm). The new (January 2025) Washington State Toxic-Free Cosmetic Act limits the amount of Lead in cosmetics to 1,000 ppb (1 ppm). So, the only two applicable total content standards for Lead (that are not serving size-based, given serving size-based standards are irrelevant when evaluating the concern for Lead exposure with any given product) result in this product being considered legal by all relevant regulatory standards.

Just because something is LEGAL does not mean it is ok, nor that it is actually safe for use by children or pregnant women. These regulatory standards were designed primarily to protect corporations from liability, not to be protective of human health (watch our documentary film for more information on that linked here).

In spite of the fact this product is LEGAL per current FDA regulatory standards, Lead Safe Mama, LLC  is working with the FDA by reporting these toothpaste toxicant levels via their online complaint form. Our goal is that the FDA will take action with this new product-specific body of evidence (the toothpaste and tooth powder products we have been testing) and possibly propose new (much lower) toxicant thresholds/ limits for toothpaste — ESPECIALLY for toothpastes and tooth powder products that are marketed for use by young children, or products that may be used by women of childbearing age/ pregnant women.

If your child has been using this toothpaste and you have concerns related to the potential health impacts (or if your child has tested positive for low levels of Lead exposure and you have not been able to identify the exposure source prior to reading this article), you should stop using the product immediately and ask your doctor if they can order a blood Lead level test (more on that here). You can also  file a report with the FDA, here. If you feel you have been a victim of false advertising in using this “Premium” and “Natural” toothpaste for your children (thinking it was a “safer” choice), please consider calling your state or city attorney’s office and ask if they have anyone looking into false advertising claims on behalf of the citizens of your area (for example, the City of Los Angeles has a legal team working specifically on false advertising claims for products like these).

If you are interested in knowing more about detox protocols to support your family’s health (in response to learning this new information about toothpaste toxicant concerns) please read this article first — here’s the link. Most detox protocols and potions sold are hoaxes (ineffective or even dangerous) that are a waste of money and can often result in additional Lead exposure for your family.


The full lab report for this product is at the bottom of this article.

As far as safer choices for foods, supplements, and cosmetics go (including toothpastes), we have a few lists on our food and supplement testing landing page (linked here) that you may find helpful in making safer choices for your family. We even have one dedicated to safer snack choices here. You may also find this link helpful, as it takes you to our most recently updated safer choices list of 50 lab-tested safer foods, cosmetics and supplements!

This is the link to our landing page with ALL of the lab reports for the independent, third-party, laboratory testing that Lead Safe Mama, LLC has coordinated since March of 2024 — this is a good page to bookmark and check back on periodically (it is also always pinned at the top of the website’s Menu via the button graphic below, and the Menu can be found at the top of every page on this website).

Please check out our open/ not-yet-funded campaigns on GoFundMe if you would like to support some of our additional independent, crowd-funded, third-party laboratory testing. Thank you!


For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005).


This is an ad-free article.

Advertising and affiliate income help Lead Safe Mama, LLC cover the costs of the work we do here (independent consumer goods testing and childhood Lead poisoning prevention advocacy). We have removed ads from most of our more widely-read articles (and newly published articles, too — like this one!) to make them easier for you to read. In addition to supporting this work by starting any shopping you might be doing with a click on our affiliate links, if you would like to support the independent consumer goods testing and childhood Lead poisoning prevention advocacy of Lead Safe Mama, LLC by making a contribution (which will also help us keep our more widely-read articles ad-free), click here. Thank you!



Are you interested in seeing MORE safer choices?

Below is an expanding list of products (foods, supplements, cosmetics, and personal care items) that tested “non-detect” for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Arsenic with independent, third-party, community-funded laboratory testing coordinated by Lead Safe Mama, LLC (an Oregon-based small business with a unique community-collaborative business model and a focus on consumer goods safety and childhood Lead poisoning prevention). The product examples below clearly demonstrate that companies can manufacture safer choices (at least from the perspective of a concern for heavy metals contamination).

The limits of detection (low-threshold of detection) for each of the metals tested are noted in the lab report for the specific product listed. To see the full original lab report for any of these products, type the brand name into the search bar at the top of any page on Lead Safe Mama dot com (and scroll down to the bottom of the related article). All our published lab reports are also linked here, on our lab testing landing page.

Flavors (or specific variations) tested are noted, and other flavors of the same product (or other products from the same brand) have either not been tested or have been tested but did not yield similar results. Test results only apply to the specific products linked below.

Products on our “safer choices” list are retested periodically (annually or more frequently, as funding permits). If a product no longer tests clean, it is removed from the list.


LIST UPDATED — June 4, 2025
Now at 68 products + 6 “bonus” options. Scroll down to see all 74 Lab-tested Safer Choices:
  1. Baby Food — 1 — Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
  2. Baby Food — 2 —Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
  3. Baby Food — 3 — Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
  4. Baby Food — 4 — Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
  5. Baby Food — 5 — Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
  6. Beverage — 1 — Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink: https://amzn.to/4fjGhov
  7. Beverage — 2 —  Olipop Grape Tonic: https://amzn.to/4cjFYZu
  8. Breakfast Cereal — 1 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: https://amzn.to/4fo1crf
  9. Breakfast Cereal — 2 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Corn Puffs Gorilla Munch: https://amzn.to/3FHZCDO
  10. Candy — 1 — Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops, not organic (Germany): https://amzn.to/3Z1Jxjr
  11. NEW! Candy — 2 — Haribo Gummy Bears** (Made in Germany, Not USA Produced): https://amzn.to/3FCGVlu
  12. Candy — 3 — Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA, New Hampshire): https://amzn.to/3OXkyIm
  13. Coffee & Tea — 1 — Chameleon Handcrafted Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: https://amzn.to/3OcrH77
  14. Coffee & Tea — 2 —Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Tamara’s favorite, from Japan, sold by a Portland, Oregon-based company!): https://amzn.to/3Dp8Fsd
  15. Coffee & Tea — 3 — Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew (XX Espresso): https://amzn.to/4gTTGoJ
  16. Coffee & Tea — 4 — Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee (Multi-country origin, non-USA): https://amzn.to/3yo1eiL
  17. Cosmetic— 1 — Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Lotion: https://amzn.to/3YmKxy1
  18. Cosmetic — 2 — Kora Organics Noni Face Oil: https://amzn.to/43hy2XO
  19. Dairy — 1 — (cheese) — Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: https://amzn.to/3ZY5noO
  20. Dairy — 2 — (coffee creamer) —  Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: https://amzn.to/4fHJIWT
  21. Fruit Snack — 1 — (bar) — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Raspberry Lemonade Flavor: https://amzn.to/3XcFsIp
  22. Fruit Snack — 2 — (bar) —Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Strawberry Banana Flavor: https://amzn.to/3WQEekA
  23. Fruit Snack — 3 — (pouch) — Costco’s Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/4gOYpZ9
  24. Fruit Snack — 4 — (pouch) — GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/3XhWYLe
  25. Fruit Snack — 5 — (pouch) — Once Upon A Farm Dairy Free Fruit Smoothie Pouch in Strawberry Banana Swirl Flavor: https://amzn.to/3CPMbAw
  26. Infant Formula — 1 — Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (pink and white can): https://amzn.to/3YYb849 
  27. Infant Formula — 2 — Bobbie Organic Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green and white can): https://amzn.to/3VOr4Vy
  28. Infant Formula — 3 — Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green can): https://amzn.to/3ZlAaeJ
  29. Infant Formula — 4 — ByHeart Infant Formula (USA-made, not organic): https://amzn.to/48DJjTb
  30. Infant Formula — 5 — HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula Powder, Stage 1 (imported)
  31. Infant Formula — 6 — HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months) Combiotic Formula  (imported)
  32. Infant Formula — 7 — Holle Bio Goat Stage 2 Infant Formula (for 6-10 months, organic, European — Swiss/ German/ Austrian) is not available on Amazon, but the Stage 3 version of this product is (not yet tested, but will likely test similarly): https://amzn.to/3BVU7zI
  33. Infant Formula — 8 — Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (not organic): This product may be available at Target (it is not available on Amazon)
  34. Infant Formula — 9 — Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European/ British Toddler Formula, for 6-12 months, Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon 
  35. Infant Formula — 10 — Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (from Europe, pink can, not organic), available at Target
  36. Infant Formula — 11 — Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon but may be available at Target
  37. Ingredient — 1 — (baking flour) — Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): https://amzn.to/3LIqxix 
  38. Ingredient — 2 — (beans) — Jovial Organic Chickpeas, Product of Italy: https://amzn.to/4iRON1l
  39. Ingredient — 3 — (vinegar) — Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): https://amzn.to/4jWhHOg
  40. Oil — 1 — (avocado) — Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): https://amzn.to/3YDZSuv
  41. Oil — 2 — (coconut) — Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: https://amzn.to/40xwBmv
  42. NEW! Oil — 3 —  (olive) — Bryan Johnson BluePrint Snake Oil Olive Oil** (not organic): https://amzn.to/4mMieUj
  43. Oil — 4 — (perilla seed) —  Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): https://amzn.to/3NDt7Yc
  44. Plant-Based Milk — 1 — (coffee creamer) — Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: https://amzn.to/4fItA7A
  45. Plant-Based Milk — 2 — (plant milk) — Kiki Milk Organic Plant-Based Milk (original flavor): https://amzn.to/3AA6Qrt
  46. Plant-Based Milk — 3 — (soy milk) — West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: https://amzn.to/4dwev8l
  47. Salt — 1 — Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): https://amzn.to/4dcbk5L
  48. NEW! Salt — 2 —Maldon Sea Salt Flakes**: https://amzn.to/4iTzWTE
  49. NEW! Salt — 3 — Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt** : https://amzn.to/4cVQMiy
  50. Seeds — 1 — (chia) —Navitas Organic, Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico): https://amzn.to/3YvE7xC
  51. Seeds — 2 —  (hemp) — Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: https://amzn.to/4e05RP9
  52. Supplement — 1 — (adult) — Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: https://amzn.to/4hlVvea
  53. Supplement — 2 — (adult) —Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: https://amzn.to/48q1j2V
  54. Supplement — 3 — (adult) — Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin, Formulated in the USA: https://amzn.to/3QUmZfN
  55. Supplement — 4 — (adult) — Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: https://amzn.to/4gY5wOm
  56. Supplement — 5 — (kids) —Baby Ddrops, Organic Vitamin D3 Supplement for Babies: https://amzn.to/49C3ktH
  57. Supplement — 6 — (kids) — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops with Iron: https://amzn.to/3YPhcgx
  58. Supplement — 7 — (kids) —Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Elderberry Liquid Drops: https://amzn.to/42617TU
  59. Supplement — 8  — (kids) — Nordic Naturals Kids Vitamin D3 Gummies (Ages 3+): https://amzn.to/4l7117a
  60. Sweetener — 1 — (sugar) — Anthony’s Organic Granulated Cane Sugar: https://amzn.to/4jf6vLv
  61. Sweetener — 2— (xylitol) — Espure Organic Xylitol: https://amzn.to/3GsCSrU
  62. Sweetener — 3— (xylitol) —Now Real Food Granulated Xylitol: https://amzn.to/4cNWDpM
  63. Toothpaste — 1 — Fluoride-free Orajel Kids Training Toothpaste in Natural Berry Fruity Flavor with Elmo Sesame Street Packaging: https://amzn.to/41wxtrY
  64. Toothpaste — 2 — Fluoride-free Miessence Mint Toothpaste: https://amzn.to/4bJc4PO
  65. Toothpaste — 3 — Dr. Brown’s Fluoride-free Baby Toothpaste in Strawberry Flavor: https://amzn.to/3DCehzZ
  66. Toothpaste — 4 — Pegciz Kids Foam Toothpaste in Watermelon Flavor, Low Flouride (packaging varies, see report): https://amzn.to/3YzP68e
  67. Toothpaste — 5 — Kid’s Spry Fluoride-free Tooth Gel with Xylitol in Original Flavor: https://amzn.to/41GZb4e
  68. Toothpaste — 6 — Fluoride-free Essential Oxygen BR Certified Organic in Peppermint Flavor: https://amzn.to/4lARZ2J

**Lab reports pending/ Not yet published as of 6/4/2025


Here’s a link to our landing page featuring all the third-party lab reports for the foods, supplements, and cosmetic products we have published to date, including those listed above: https://tamararubin.com/2024/05/food-articles/


Stand by for more!

BONUS: Below are SIX additional products that each tested positive for trace (very low levels of) Arsenic  at levels considered safe by all standards (with the limits of detection noted in the lab report for the specific product listed).

  1. Infant Formula — Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk, not organic (positive for traces of Arsenic): May be available at Target or through other online retailers of European infant formulas
  2. Ingredient — Maseca Instant Corn Masa Flour, Product of Mexico (positive for traces of Arsenic)https://amzn.to/4iR8qWN
  3. Fruit Snack —  That’s It Apple Cherry Bars, not organic (positive for traces of Arsenic): https://amzn.to/4fHkSWV
  4. Oil — Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado oil, organic (postive for traces of Arsenic): https://amzn.to/3BVQYQa
  5. Supplement — (adult) —  Now Sunflower Lecithin, not organic (positive for traces of Arsenic): https://amzn.to/3AFdHzO
  6. Supplement — (adult) —  WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue for Pregnancy: https://amzn.to/3Cd940N

Amazon links are affiliate links. 


Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on a Lead Safe Mama, LLC Amazon affiliate link, Lead Safe Mama, LLC may receive a percentage of what you spend, at no extra cost to you.


Lab report for the product pictured above:

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17 Comments

  1. This is insane! I need a toothpaste suitable for an adult that is safe. I am not brushing with some fruity kids toothpaste, period. Baking soda is too harsh for daily use. Until something else shows better results I will just continue to use my Sensodyne for sensitive teeth. How maddening.

    Thanks for the information Tamara! I’m not shooting the messenger here.

  2. So EWG doesn’t test for this stuff? I specifically bought David’s toothpaste because it was EWG certified.

      1. Wow, who can you trust these days? It’s useful to understand the known ingredients but the unknowns are far worse. Ugh

  3. Tamara, why are the Cadmium and Mercury tolerances so high (< 25ppb) for testing David's, when others have thresholds for detection as low as < 5ppb? It's the same lab / testing methods, is it not?

  4. These results are indeed troubling. Currently looking for an alternative. (The % of nHA in Boka seems too low to me to be effective.) I was wondering if you would consider testing Mouthology’s nHA toothpaste (mouthology.com)?

    1. Follow-up: An email from the company revealed that they use needle-like shaped nHA, which apparently is problematic, so this might not be a good alternative after all. They say they’re going to do metals testing in the future.

  5. Actually, I think I may have found an even better alternative: Fygg nHA toothpaste. They use the same high quality kind of nHA as David’s (nanoXIM), and they even provide the results of their own heavy metals testing on their website: fygg.com/pages/faq

  6. I am very disappointed with this discovery. I have been using “David’s” toothpaste for a while now (currently on our 2nd tube).
    One reason why I even made the switch was because my family is slowly becoming more environmental-aware and were now striving to cut down the trash we put out in our dumpster. When we saw that this toothpaste was – not – packaged in plastic, that was a win for our family. We were scared to buy/try a powder-toothpaste so “David’s Toothpaste” was our solution.

    It was only today an extended family member forwarded me this URL page and I am not pleased.
    I just hope in the near future a safer toothpaste will be on the market that will also be packaged in an eco-way and choose to ditch plastic-packaging much like David’s did.

    1. Thank you for commenting!

      The Miessence product has environmentally conscious packaging and – while it is sold out on Amazon – you can probably find it from some foreign sites (UK, Australia), but you will likely need to pay extra for shipping (that’s what I did for my family).

      Here’s the sold out Amazon link so you can see the product listing: https://amzn.to/3RSvAQu

      Here’s our lab report and article:
      https://tamararubin.com/2025/03/miessence-mint-toothpaste-fluoride-free-made-in-australia/

      We are also testing some other products we expect may come back cleaner, so follow up on social media or subscribe to our newsletter or Patreon to get the updates when those articles are published. Here’s our Patreon link: http://www.patreon.com/LeadSafeMama

      Tamara

  7. I feel sick. I’ve been using this for years AND NOT RINSING after since a dentist on a podcast suggested doing that so the hydroxyapatite can better stick to teeth. As someone who has been dealing with so many health problems in my life, I can’t. I feel so stupid.

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