ThinkBaby Sunscreen (SPF 50) Found to Have Significant Lead Contamination With Independent, Third-Party Lab Testing

ByTamara Posted: Updated:
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Published June 3, 2025 — Tuesday
A Not-So-Quick Note from Tamara Rubin:

This ThinkBaby Sunscreen (marketed / advertised / marked on the tube as being “free of harmful chemicals”) tested positive for the highest level of Lead in a Baby Sunscreen that we have found to date (as of June 3, 2025 – the date of publishing this article) through the Lead Safe Mama, LLC Community Collaborative Laboratory Testing Initiative.

The amount of Lead found in this product is also illegal in the State of Washington given the limit for Lead in cosmetics (as of January 1, 2025) is one part per million (1 ppm) with the new Washington State Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (TFCA).  1 ppm is the same as 1,000 parts per billion (ppb), and this baby sunscreen product tested positive for significantly more than 1,000 ppb Lead (scroll down to see full lab test results).This ThinkBaby SPF 50 Baby Sunscreen also tested positive for a concerning level of Cadmium (which is not yet similarly regulated, but is a known carcinogen – and has been identified as a carcinogen for more than four decades).

As soon as this article is published, we will be reporting this product to the State of Washington for them to consider taking action given the Lead levels found exceed the maximum threshold allowed with TFCA.

Even though this product is not illegal by current Federal  (FDA) Standards, we will also be reporting it to the FDA so they are made aware of the concern. It is our opinion that this should be illegal on a federal level — especially given it is a product manufactured and sold specifically for use with babies. Our hope (in reporting this to the FDA) is that this piece of data will be part of a body of data that will eventually influence future FDA policy, further restricting the allowable Lead levels in cosmetics products (and especially cosmetics products sold for use on babies).

If you would like to join us in reporting this sunscreen product to the FDA (given the egregiously high Lead level found), here is the link to do so (if you are comfortable doing so, please include your child’s Blood Lead Level in your FDA complaint if your child has tested positive for Lead in their blood): https://www.fda.gov/safety/report-problem-fda

Unsurprisingly — as with MANY of the other heavily Lead-contaminated personal care products / cosmetics we have tested through the Lead Safe Mama, LLC Community-Collaborative Laboratory Testing Initiative— this product is manufactured by an EWG top rated sunscreen brand, a brand recommended by  EWG as one of the safer brands available on the market (a brand which even has an EWG Verified Sunscreen Product, EWG’s top rating – see screenshots below): https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/choosing-best-sunscreen-your-kids

Interestingly enough – this screenshot from the ThinkBaby Sunscreen website (below) shows the EWG Verified language on the bottom of the page for the listing for this specific product that we tested, although on the EWG website we could not find this specific product (SPF 50) listed as an EWG Verified product (only the SPF 30 was listed on EWG’s website as an EWG Verified product – see image above and second image below). I cannot help but wonder if the “EWG Verified” graphic on the image directly below is there on the ThinkBaby web page for this product as a way to intentionally misrepresent this SPF 50 product as also being EWG verified (when – again – only their SPF 30 product is EWG Verified).

Do we think it is okay to have chemicals that cause cancer and brain damage in products we use on our babies’ bodies – several times a day (and typically every day over the summer months)?

IMPORTANT: All relevant federal agencies agree there is no safe level of Lead exposure for children (or human beings of any age, for that matter). A primary concern with Lead and Cadmium contamination in sunscreen products (especially products specifically marketed and sold for use by very young children -as this one is) is the possibility of ingestion hazards that are likely to happen with the regular / normal / anticipated hand-to-mouth activity of young children. Said another way, when you apply sunscreen to young children, that child will inevitably get the product on their hands and often subsequently put their hands in their mouths.

Given the incredibly high level of Lead and Cadmium in this product (and similar products) and the target market being babies, this is a significant potential exposure concern — even if only traces of the product are ingested daily over the summer months.

There is also secondary concern for potential transdermal absorption of at least some of the Lead and Cadmium in these sunscreen products (especially given the fact that the Lead and Cadmium are typically carried in an oil base combined with the fact that the product is generally used in hot weather, making it more likely for possible transdermal absorption as pores open with sweating from heat and outdoor activities).

While there is some solid science supporting this concern, the concern for transdermal absorption of Lead and Cadmium from popular zinc-based sunscreen products does warrant further study, and — to my knowledge — has not seen sufficient study in part due to a lack of specific knowledge about the actual toxicant content in products like this, especially products made and sold expressly for use by children. We’re hoping this sunscreen testing project will change that (and will precipitate further scientific inquiry into the concern for transdermal absorption of toxicants from modern sunscreen products).

“I’ve been using this product! What should I do?”

I do expect these test results are going to be fairly upsetting to many people. I also recommend that if you have been using this product, that you stop using it immediately (if you have been using it for your child or yourself) and consider getting a Blood Lead Level test for your kiddo as well – especially if you have not gotten one recently.

  1. Here’s a link about testing your kiddos:
  2. Here’s a link discussing whether-or-not you should worry about exposure from this product:
  3. Here’s a link that is also relevant to this conversation, some reasons why you or your child may not test positive for Lead – even if you have been using this product daily all summer:
  4. Here’s an article about natural detox protocols

Again – thank you for reading and thank you for sharing this information in your communities.

The Lead Safe Mama, LLC Laboratory Testing Initiative is a community-collaborative project (started in March of 2024) through which members of the greater Lead Safe Mama online community nominate products for laboratory testing and then collectively crowd-fund to cover the costs of the lab testing of (and reporting on) nominated products. To help Lead Safe Mama, LLC test and report on more sunscreen products (in search of safer choices for families), please contribute ($15? $25? Or whatever you can afford!) to any of our open campaigns, linked here. We would love to be able to send more sunscreen products to the lab for testing this month (June of 2025) if at all possible. Thank you!

  • Click through to this landing page to see lab reports for more products we have tested, organized by category.
  • To see the original full original lab report for this product, scroll down to the bottom of the page (again, the report is below the shareable social media graphic summarizing the test results at the very bottom of  this page).
  • Our lab-tested safer choices list is below as well. 

The full original lab report for this supplement product is at the bottom of this article. Please scroll down.

As far as safer choices for foods, supplements, and cosmetics go (including toothpastes and other personal care products), we have a few lists on our laboratory testing landing page (linked here) that you may find to be helpful in making safer choices for your family. We even have one dedicated to safer snack choices, here. 

Here’s the link to our landing page with ALL of the lab reports for the independent, third-party laboratory testing Lead Safe Mama, LLC has coordinated since March 2024 — this is also a good page to bookmark and check back on periodically (it is 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 site).

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 new articles (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 work 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! You can also support our work with a small monthly gift on Patreon. All of our newly published lab reports are first shared on Patreon before we share them on social media (our Patreon has an option to subscribe for free as well)!

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).
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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.
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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 re-tested 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 67 products + 6 “bonus” options. Scroll down to see all 73 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 Item — 1 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: https://amzn.to/4fo1crf
  9. Breakfast Item — 2 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Corn Puffs Gorilla Munch: https://amzn.to/3FHZCDO
  10. Candy — 1 — Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA, New Hampshire): https://amzn.to/3OXkyIm
  11. Candy — 2 — Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops, not organic (Germany): https://amzn.to/3Z1Jxjr
  12. Coffee & Tea — 1 — Chameleon Handcrafted Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: https://amzn.to/3OcrH77
  13. Coffee & Tea — 2 — Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Tamara’s favorite, from Japan, sold by a Portland, Oregon-based company!): https://amzn.to/3Dp8Fsd
  14. Coffee & Tea — 3 — Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew (XX Espresso): https://amzn.to/4gTTGoJ
  15. Coffee & Tea — 4 — Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee (Multi-country origin, non-USA): https://amzn.to/3yo1eiL
  16. Coffee Creamer, Plant-Based  — 1 — Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: https://amzn.to/4fItA7A
  17. Coffee Creamer, Dairy — 2 — Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: https://amzn.to/4fHJIWT
  18. Dairy, Cheese — 1 — Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: https://amzn.to/3ZY5noO
  19. Fruit Snack — 1 — GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/3XhWYLe
  20. Fruit Snack — 2 — Costco’s Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/4gOYpZ9
  21. Fruit Snack — 3 — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Strawberry Banana Flavor: https://amzn.to/3WQEekA
  22. Fruit Snack — 4 — Once Upon A Farm Dairy Free Fruit Smoothie Pouch in Strawberry Banana Swirl Flavor: https://amzn.to/3CPMbAw
  23. Fruit Snack — 5 — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Raspberry Lemonade Flavor: https://amzn.to/3XcFsIp
  24. Infant Formula — 1 — Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (pink and white can): https://amzn.to/3YYb849 
  25. Infant Formula — 2 — Bobbie Organic Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green and white can): https://amzn.to/3VOr4Vy
  26. Infant Formula — 3 — Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green can): https://amzn.to/3ZlAaeJ
  27. Infant Formula — 4 — ByHeart Infant Formula (USA-made, not organic): https://amzn.to/48DJjTb
  28. Infant Formula — 5 — HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula Powder, Stage 1 (imported)
  29. Infant Formula — 6 — HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months) Combiotic Formula  (imported)
  30. 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
  31. Infant Formula — 8 — Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (not organic): This product may be available at Target (it is not available on Amazon)
  32. Infant Formula — 9 — Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European/ British Toddler Formula, for 6-12 months, Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon 
  33. Infant Formula — 10 — Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (from Europe, pink can, not organic), available at Target
  34. Infant Formula — 11 — Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon but may be available at Target
  35. Ingredient — 1 — (salt) — Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): https://amzn.to/4dcbk5L
  36. NEW! Ingredient — 2 — (salt) — Maldon Sea Salt Flakes**: https://amzn.to/4iTzWTE
  37. NEW! Ingredient — 3 — (salt) — Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt** : https://amzn.to/4cVQMiy
  38. Ingredient — 4 — (baking flour) — Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): https://amzn.to/3LIqxix 
  39. Ingredient — 5 — (seeds) — Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: https://amzn.to/4e05RP9
  40. Ingredient — 6 — (seeds) — Navitas Organic, Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico): https://amzn.to/3YvE7xC
  41. Ingredient — 7 — (vinegar) — Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): https://amzn.to/4jWhHOg
  42. Ingredient — 8 — (beans) — Jovial Organic Chickpeas, Product of Italy: https://amzn.to/4iRON1l
  43. Ingredient — 9 — (sugar) — Anthony’s Organic Granulated Cane Sugar: https://amzn.to/4jf6vLv
  44. Ingredient — 10 — (sweetener) — Espure Organic Xylitol: https://amzn.to/3GsCSrU
  45. Ingredient — 11 — (sweetener) —  Now Real Food Granulated Xylitol: https://amzn.to/4cNWDpM
  46. NEW! Oil — 1 — Bryan Johnson BluePrint Snake Oil Olive Oil** (not organic): https://amzn.to/4mMieUj
  47. Oil — 2 — Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): https://amzn.to/3YDZSuv
  48. Oil — 3 — Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): https://amzn.to/3NDt7Yc
  49. Oil — 4 — Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: https://amzn.to/40xwBmv
  50. Plant-Based Milk — 1 — Kiki Milk Organic Plant-Based Milk (original flavor): https://amzn.to/3AA6Qrt
  51. Plant-Based Milk — 2 — West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: https://amzn.to/4dwev8l
  52. Supplement — 1 — Baby Ddrops, Organic Vitamin D3 Supplement for Babies: https://amzn.to/49C3ktH
  53. Supplement — 2 — Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: https://amzn.to/4hlVvea
  54. Supplement — 3 — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops with Iron: https://amzn.to/3YPhcgx
  55. Supplement — 4 — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Elderberry Liquid Drops: https://amzn.to/42617TU
  56. Supplement — 5  — Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: https://amzn.to/48q1j2V
  57. Supplement — 6 — Nordic Naturals Kids Vitamin D3 Gummies (Ages 3+): https://amzn.to/4l7117a
  58. Supplement — 7 — Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin, Formulated in the USA: https://amzn.to/3QUmZfN
  59. Supplement — 8 — Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: https://amzn.to/4gY5wOm
  60. Cosmetic — 1 — Kora Organics Noni Face Oil: https://amzn.to/43hy2XO
  61. Cosmetic— 2 — Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Lotion: https://amzn.to/3YmKxy1
  62. Toothpaste — 1 — Fluoride-free Orajel Kids Training Toothpaste in Natural Berry Fruity Flavor with Elmo Sesame Street Packaging: https://amzn.to/41wxtrY
  63. Toothpaste — 2 — Fluoride-free Miessence Mint Toothpaste: https://amzn.to/4bJc4PO
  64. Toothpaste — 3 — Dr. Brown’s Fluoride-free Baby Toothpaste in Strawberry Flavor: https://amzn.to/3DCehzZ
  65. Toothpaste — 4 — Pegciz Kids Foam Toothpaste in Watermelon Flavor, Low Flouride (packaging varies, see report): https://amzn.to/3YzP68e
  66. Toothpaste — 5 — Kid’s Spry Fluoride-free Tooth Gel with Xylitol in Original Flavor: https://amzn.to/41GZb4e
  67. Toothpaste — 6 — Fluoride-free Essential Oxygen BR Certified Organic in Peppermint Flavor: https://amzn.to/4lARZ2J

**Lab reports pending/ Not yet published as of 5/28/2025

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. Ingredient — Maseca Instant Corn Masa Flour, Product of Mexico (positive for traces of Arsenic):  https://amzn.to/4iR8qWN
  2. 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
  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 — Now Sunflower Lecithin, not organic (positive for traces of Arsenic): https://amzn.to/3AFdHzO
  6. Supplement — 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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10 Comments

  1. This is so upsetting! Even though these levels are alarming, and I would no longer use this product, I’m worried that results like this will scare parents into not using any sunscreen for their kids. Clothes alone, unless they have SPF, do not protect your skin. Kids (and adults) can’t always be inside, or in shade, and we need to make sure their skin is protected. Hopefully you can find a better alternative!

    Reply

  3. Wow, this is insane especially since I always see this brand sunscreen being recommended in mom groups!

    Reply

  4. I just posted this on X. I have not been using zinc oxide or any sunscreen on my kids for a few years as all of them use some level of microplastics (potential endocrine disruptors/carcinogens) but just recently got peer pressured into using it and bought 3 bottles of this product, yikes. It was the only one without microplastics according to my own research and using Chat GPT. Prior to this, it truly was the “safest” suncreen in terms of endocrine disruptors/carcinogens/skin irritants. Now there is this additional concern of lead/cadmium. According to Chat GPT, USP-grade Zinc oxide could be more clean, but I do wonder if it is possible to make a lead-free zinc oxide product given high concentrations of zinc needed to provide sun protection.

    Reply

  5. It is highly disturbing that the 3 oz container of spf 50 says it is EWG rated as #2 in the upper right hand corner and then when you look at EWG, the spf 50 is not listed in their ratings.

    Reply

  6. Ooooooh I really hope you find a safe sunscreen…. the companies selling these toxic baby products should go bankrupt.

    Reply

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