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Published July 29, 2025 — Tuesday
#1) A Quick Note from Tamara Rubin:

This is simply outrageous. I generally try to avoid including anything “emotional” when writing about product test results —  but this one really hits home, given generations of babies have been slathered with Desitin Diaper ointments since it was first introduced in 1919.

Outrageous.

The level of Lead in this product (pictured below) is extreme, especially considering it is a product intended for use by babies. It also tested positive for Cadmium (a known carcinogen). I don’t think any parent would knowingly buy this product if they:

1. understood the dangers of Lead, and
2. knew just how much Lead is in this product.

Please scroll down for our shareable social media graphic, as well as the original lab report — each of which details the specific test results for the two concerning toxicants found.

At this point through the Lead Safe Mama, LLC Community Collaborative Laboratory Testing Initiative, I think we have solidly established the need for parents to avoid products made for use by babies containing Zinc as a primary component. Our Zinc supply (specifically the Zinc Oxide ingredient sold for use in cosmetics) is simply not safe — it all appears to be heavily Lead-contaminated (regardless of the product-type it is being used for).

The level of Lead found in this Desitin Extra Strength Diaper Ointment (3,303.8 parts per billion Lead, which is more than 3 parts per million), is not illegal on a federal level (the FDA considers this completely legal, as it is “below 10 ppm Lead”). However, this level of Lead is illegal in the State of Washington, under  the new Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (TFCA), which became enforceable as of January 2025. Any cosmetic product that tests positive for over 1 ppm (1,000 ppb) Lead is in violation of this new Washington State rule. That being said, the department in charge of enforcing this new rule is choosing to take its time before engaging in any enforcement actions (allowing companies a year – or possibly longer – to come into compliance, and relaxing other considerations related to the regulation as well). It is therefore unclear whether this lab report will generate any action against the Desitin manufacturer (in the Pacific Northwest, at least). 

I would like to encourage people who have used this product to file a compliant with the State of Washington, and with the FDA. Here’s the link to file an FDA complaint. The Washington State link (below) does not have a specific form for filing a compliant (yet, that I am aware of), but please do check out the contact information there and send an email to the relevant department for starters (if you are so inclined & especially if you live in Washington State and have used this product for your children!) Here’s a link to the Washington State office in charge of that regulation in case you are interested in contacting them, too.

While this Desitin 40% Zinc Diaper Ointment product is not illegal on a Federal level (per current FDA standards) for cosmetics, there’s a chance the FDA may take action anyway, as the product is expressly made for use by babies, and there is a real concern for potential Lead exposure through ingestion given the normal hand-to-mouth behavior one can expect of this product’s intended user (said another way – any cream or lotion you put on a baby’s body will end up on their hands, and their hands will always eventually end up in their mouth).

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Remember: All relevant federal agencies agree there is no safe level of Lead exposure for children (and all humans, for that matter).

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The Lead Safe Mama, LLC Community-Collaborative Laboratory Testing Initiative is a project (started in March 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 testing and reporting on nominated products. Tamara Rubin volunteers her time in support of this initiative (see our detailed budget linked below).

• Click through our landing page for lab reports on more products we have tested, organized by category.
• Here’s a link outlining the budget behind the testing and reporting on each product we send to the lab.
• To see the original lab report for this product, scroll down to the very bottom of the page (again, the report is below the shareable social media graphic summarizing the test results).
• Our most recently updated list of 82 lab-tested safer choices can be found below the shareable social media graphic.

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#2) Ways you can support the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC

If you appreciate what we do and would like to help keep our work going by contributing something (any amount, really!) toward the costs of our not-yet-funded testing and reporting, please consider making a contribution ($25? $50? $100? Whatever you can afford) supporting Lead Safe Mama, LLC through our General Fund GoFundMe or — even better — please consider  joining us on Patreon with a small monthly contribution. Thank you.

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Here also are five not-yet-funded campaigns for specific products that could use your contributions if you are in a position to help:

1. Rowe Casa Organics Sun Shield
2. Now Real Food Organic Raw Cacao Powder
3. Badger Baby Sunscreen, SPF 40
4. ThinkSport SPF 50 Sunscreen
5. Tubby Todd SPF 50 Sunscreen for Kids

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#3) Shareable Social Media Graphic — Please Share!

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#4) For those new to the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC

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).

• Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a unique community collaborative woman-owned small business for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety.
• Since July 2022, the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC has been responsible for seven product recalls (FDA and CPSC).
• All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable.
• Please check out our press page for news coverage of our work, linked here.

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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. You can support this work by starting any shopping you might be doing by first clicking  on one of our affiliate links, — you don’t need to buy what we link to for Lead Safe Mama, LLC to possibly receive a percentage of what you spend (at no extra cost to you), you simply need to click any one of our Amazon affiliate links and then go about your Amazon shopping as you normally would! Thank you for supporting our work in this way.

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#5) Lead Safe Mama, LLC Lab-Tested Safer Choices List

Below is an expanding list of products (foods, supplements, cosmetics, and personal care items, including sunscreens and toothpaste) 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 variations 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 listed and 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.

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Lab-Tested Safer Choices List
UPDATED: July 27, 2025, Sunday
Now at 76 products + 6 “bonus” options. Scroll down to see all 82 products:

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. Beverage — 3 — Synergy Golden Pineapple Kombucha: https://amzn.to/3HVzMgM
9. Breakfast Cereal — 1 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: https://amzn.to/4fo1crf
10. Breakfast Cereal — 2 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Corn Puffs Gorilla Munch: https://amzn.to/3FHZCDO
11. Candy — 1 — Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops, not organic (Made in Germany): https://amzn.to/3Z1Jxjr
12. Candy — 2 — Haribo Gummy Bears (Made in Germany, not USA-produced): https://amzn.to/3FCGVlu
13. Candy — 3 — Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA, New Hampshire): https://amzn.to/3OXkyIm
14. Candy — 4 — Werther’s Original Butter Candies (Made in Germany, not USA-produced): https://amzn.to/4nkFc5i
15. Coffee & Tea — 1 — Chameleon Handcrafted Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: https://amzn.to/3OcrH77
16. Coffee & Tea — 2 — Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Tamara’s favorite, Made in Japan, sold by a Portland, Oregon-based company!): https://amzn.to/3Dp8Fsd
17. Coffee & Tea — 3 — Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew (XX Espresso): https://amzn.to/4gTTGoJ
18. Coffee & Tea — 4 — Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee (Multi-country origin, non-USA): https://amzn.to/3yo1eiL
19. Cosmetic— 1 — Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Lotion: https://amzn.to/3YmKxy1
20. Cosmetic — 2 — Kora Organics Noni Face Oil: https://amzn.to/43hy2XO
21. Cosmetic — 3 — Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, SPF 50 (chemical sunscreen, please read article): https://amzn.to/3HRMVrl
22. NEW! Cosmetic — 4  — La Roche Posay Kids’s Sunscreen**: https://amzn.to/3IP2i4b 
23. Dairy — 1 — (cheese) — Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: https://amzn.to/3ZY5noO
24. Dairy — 2 — (coffee creamer) — Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: https://amzn.to/4fHJIWT
25. Fruit Snack — 1 — (bar) — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Raspberry Lemonade Flavor: https://amzn.to/3XcFsIp
26. Fruit Snack — 2 — (bar) — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Strawberry Banana Flavor: https://amzn.to/3WQEekA
27. Fruit Snack — 3 — (pouch) — Costco’s Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/4gOYpZ9
28. Fruit Snack — 4 — (pouch) — GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/3XhWYLe
29. Fruit Snack — 5 — (pouch) — Once Upon A Farm Dairy-free Fruit Smoothie Pouch in Strawberry Banana Swirl Flavor: https://amzn.to/3CPMbAw
30. Infant Formula — 1 — Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (pink and white can): https://amzn.to/3YYb849 
31. Infant Formula — 2 — Bobbie Organic Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green and white can): https://amzn.to/3VOr4Vy
32. Infant Formula — 3 — Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green can): https://amzn.to/3ZlAaeJ
33. Infant Formula — 4 — ByHeart Infant Formula (USA-made, not organic): https://amzn.to/48DJjTb
    
34. Infant Formula — 5 — HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula Powder, Stage 1 (imported)
35. Infant Formula — 6 — HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months) Combiotic Formula  (imported)
36. 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
37. Infant Formula — 8 — Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (not organic): This product may be available at Target (it is not available on Amazon)
38. Infant Formula — 9 — Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European/ British Toddler Formula, for 6-12 months, Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon 
39. Infant Formula — 10 — Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (from Europe, pink can, not organic), available at Target
40. Infant Formula — 11 — Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon but may be available at Target
41. Ingredient — 1 — (baking flour) — Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): https://amzn.to/3LIqxix 
42. Ingredient — 2 — (beans) — Jovial Organic Chickpeas, Product of Italy: https://amzn.to/4iRON1l
43. Ingredient — 3 — (vinegar) — Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): https://amzn.to/4jWhHOg
44. Oil — 1 — (avocado) — Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): https://amzn.to/3YDZSuv
45. Oil — 2 — (coconut) — Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: https://amzn.to/40xwBmv
46. Oil — 3 — (olive) — Bryan Johnson BluePrint Snake Oil Olive Oil (not organic): https://amzn.to/4mMieUj
47. Oil — 4 — (perilla seed) — Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): https://amzn.to/3NDt7Yc
48. Plant-Based Milk — 1 — (coffee creamer) — Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: https://amzn.to/4fItA7A
49. Plant-Based Milk — 2 — (plant milk) — Kiki Milk Organic Plant-Based Milk (original flavor): https://amzn.to/3AA6Qrt
50. Plant-Based Milk — 3 — (soy milk) — West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: https://amzn.to/4dwev8l
51. Salt — 1 — Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): https://amzn.to/4dcbk5L
52. NEW! Salt — 2 — Maldon Sea Salt Flakes**: https://amzn.to/4iTzWTE
53. NEW! Salt — 3 — Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt** : https://amzn.to/4cVQMiy
54. Seeds — 1 — (chia) — Navitas Organic, Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico): https://amzn.to/3YvE7xC
55. Seeds — 2 —  (hemp) — Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: https://amzn.to/4e05RP9
56. Supplement — 1 — (adult) — Clean Creatine (100% Creapure), Made in Germany (use with caution, please read article): https://amzn.to/43UjrS6
57. Supplement — 2 — (adult) — Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: https://amzn.to/4hlVvea
58. Supplement — 3 — (adult) — Nature’s Way Zinc Lozenges: https://amzn.to/4liDz6f
59. Supplement — 4 — (adult) — Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: https://amzn.to/48q1j2V
60. Supplement — 5 — (adult) — Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin, Formulated in the USA: https://amzn.to/3QUmZfN
61. Supplement — 6 — (adult) — Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: https://amzn.to/4gY5wOm
62. Supplement — 7 — (adult) — Qwell Omega-3 by The Veggie Doctor, Vegan Algae DHA + EPA + DPA: https://amzn.to/45Lbosh
63. Supplement — 8 — (kids) — Baby Ddrops, Organic Vitamin D3 Supplement for Babies: https://amzn.to/49C3ktH
64. Supplement — 9 — (kids) — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops with Iron: https://amzn.to/3YPhcgx
65. Supplement — 10 — (kids) — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Elderberry Liquid Drops: https://amzn.to/42617TU
66. Supplement — 11  — (kids) — Nordic Naturals Kids Vitamin D3 Gummies (Ages 3+): https://amzn.to/4l7117a
67. Sweetener — 1 — (sugar) — Anthony’s Organic Granulated Cane Sugar: https://amzn.to/4jf6vLv
68. Sweetener — 2— (xylitol) — Espure Organic Xylitol: https://amzn.to/3GsCSrU
69. Sweetener — 3— (xylitol) — Now Real Food Granulated Xylitol: https://amzn.to/4cNWDpM
70. Toothpaste — 1 — Aquafresh “FRESH & MINTY” Fluoride Toothpaste, Purchased in London, England (Made in U.K. or Slovakia): https://amzn.to/4lhRMjO
71. Toothpaste — 2 — Orajel Kids Training Toothpaste, Fluoride-free in Natural Berry Fruity Flavor with Elmo Sesame Street packaging: https://amzn.to/41wxtrY
72. Toothpaste — 3 — Miessence Fluoride-free Mint Toothpaste (Made in Australia): https://amzn.to/4bJc4PO
73. Toothpaste — 4 — Dr. Brown’s Fluoride-free Baby Toothpaste in Strawberry Flavor: https://amzn.to/3DCehzZ
74. Toothpaste — 5 — Pegciz Kids Foam Toothpaste in Watermelon Flavor, Low Flouride (packaging varies, see report): https://amzn.to/3YzP68e
75. Toothpaste — 6 — Kid’s Spry Fluoride-free Tooth Gel with Xylitol in Original Flavor: https://amzn.to/41GZb4e
76. Toothpaste — 7 — Essential Oxygen Fluoride-free  BR Certified Organic in Peppermint Flavor: https://amzn.to/4lARZ2J

**Lab reports pending/ Not yet published as of 6/29/2025

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Here’s a link to our landing page featuring all our third-party lab reports for the foods, supplements, and cosmetic products we have published to date, including those listed above. This is a good page to bookmark since it is updated several times each week, as new lab reports are published: https://tamararubin.com/lab-reports/

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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

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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.

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#6) Lab report for the product pictured above:

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