Question: How much Lead and Arsenic should be allowed in crayons that toddlers might eat?

ByTamara Posted: Updated:
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Published July 4, 2025 — Friday
A [Not-So] Quick Note from Tamara Rubin:

  1. c. 2012: I discovered that there were low levels of toxicants in crayons (when tested using XRF Technology), and wrote an article about it for a previous website. I was asked to take the article down by a company – in response to the published results. This was the first time in my advocacy career that a company asked me to take down an article  That story is covered in one of the articles below. It is was the first (and last) time that I caved to such a request – because I was scared of corporate retaliation. I got over that fear  a long time ago though! 🙂
  2. 2018-08/10, August: I wrote about toxicants found in Crayola Crayons (using XRF technology) – on this website -in August of 2018. Here’s the original article link.
  3. 2018-08/28,August: I wrote a follow up piece about Crayola as well.. Here’s the link to that article.
  4. 2018-09/02, September: We wrote about XRF test results for Stockmar Beeswax Crayons in October of 2020. Here’s the link to that article.
  5. 2019-01/02, January: I first wrote an article with full XRF test results for Honeysticks Beeswax Crayons. Here’s the link to that article.
  6. 2019-01/30, January: I first wrote an article with full XRF test results for Filana Nontoxic Organic Beeswax Crayons. Here’s the link to that article.
  7. 2020-04/21, April: I wrote an article with full XRF test results for Melissa & Dough Jumbo Triangular Crayons (for ages 3+). Here’s the link to that article.
  8. 2020_06/2020: June: We published the XRF test results for a set of Eco-Wedge Crayons (purchased in 2019). Here’s the link to that article.

I wanted to share this background and history with you all (the work we have already done in the area of testing crayons, and our perspective on the concern), so you would have some context regarding the test results / the levels of heavy metals found with laboratory testing of the pink and red colored  Honeysticks Beeswax Toddler Crayons (purchased in May of 2025 and lab tested in June of 2025). The full original lab reports for each of the two colors are below, at the bottom of this article — past the sharable social media graphic and past our “lab tested safer choices” list.

I anticipate that some may ask “how are the laboratory test results seemingly so different” from the results that we got testing the Honeysticks crayons using XRF technology in years past? I wanted to address this briefly as it is an important question. Below are two possible factors that might answer that question:

  • Based on Lead Safe Mama, LLC’s long history of  crayon testing  – including investigating and reporting we have done to date specifically related to products from the Honeysticks brand (example linked above) — I  expect that it is quite possible that Honeysticks has been intentionally sourcing (what appears to be) cleaner colorants since we last communicated with them, given the guidance I gave them regarding concerns noted  (and suspected sources of contamination) when we met in person. Although frankly this is pure speculation and may not be what happened to lower the toxicant levels in Honeysticks crayons at all, I have no first-hand knowledge given Honeysticks never followed up with us about the concern after our in person meeting discussing the issue.
    • For context: We met with  representative from Honeysticks Crayons  here at Lead Safe Mama, HQ (aka: my home office) a few years ago.
    • Our XRF testing had (prior to our meeting) found the pink and red Honeysticks Beeswax crayons consistently tested positive for traces of Cadmium (when tested using XRF technology) — which is why we chose to test those two colors for our first laboratory testing of crayons.
    • The Honeysticks representative had flown in from New Zealand and brought with him additional samples for us to test (samples of every product in their line up).
    • We were so swamped with a backlog of testing at the time of that visit, that we never had time to do a follow up article after that meeting (it also was not a priority at the time, given our meeting didn’t really uncover any new information), but I kept the crayons on my desk for all this time, as a reminder to finally test products from this brand when we got access to laboratory testing (which brings us to now, when we purchased new 2025 product for testing).
  • Another important possible consideration (why the XRF testing previously showed a concerning amount of Cadmium in the Pink and Red Honeysticks Crayons is that there could be a significant-range of batch-specific variations found when testing crayons for toxicants, which is just one reason why this concern (the presence of toxicants in crayons that may be consumed by younger children as well a special needs kiddos with PICA) needs to be more strictly regulated (so there are reasonable set limits that must not be exceeded— taking into account the ingestion concern)

Note: Crayons are only currently regulated as TOYS, not as “items that may be ingested by toddlers”. This means that the limit for Lead in a Crayon is in parts per million, not parts per billion. There are 1,000 parts per billion in one part per million. Toxicity of items that may be ingested (like food) is generally measured in parts per billion, with most food toxicity levels in the range of double to triple digit parts per billion.

  • The current regulatory limit for the paint, glaze or coating on an item intended for use by children is 90 ppm Lead.
  • The regulatory limit for Lead content in the substrate of an item intended for use by children is 100 ppm Lead.
  • 100 ppm Lead is 100,000 ppb Lead.
  • There are also no heath-protective regulated total content limits for Arsenic, Cadmium, or Mercury in crayons that may be ingested by children (at least not that I am aware of, but please do let me know if you find some piece of legislation that I may not know of — a regulation that limits toxicants in crayons to the double or triple (max) parts per billion level, not to a level measured in parts per million).

All that to say… while these pink and red Honeysticks Beeswax Toddler crayons did NOT test positive for Cadmium ((which was our finding using XRF testing six and one half years ago), they did test each  positive for concerning (but 100% LEGAL) levels of both Arsenic and Lead – concerning specifically from the perspective being that these are products sold and marketed for use by the youngest children and especially given the fact that these Honeysticks products are also  sold and marketed as being a “non toxic” alternative, with “food-grade” colorants.

Parents would not (given the marketing language used for the product) have concern for this product were it to be ingested by a child – however if they knew the level of Arsenic and Lead in the product (and especially if their child happens to be one of those kiddos who regularly eats crayons – which is WHY the parents chose this as a “less toxic” option), they may (and should) be concerned. 

Here’s today’s ad listing for this product (on Amazon)., please scroll down past the image to continue reading the article.

Granted THESE ARE THE FIRST TWO CRAYONS that we have sent to the lab for testing. Ever. So we have no idea how Crayola and other brands  might compare, but we have set up campaigns to help fund the cost of testing and reporting on more crayon examples  – so we can review that data a basis of comparison. You can find those campaigns here — please contribute if you are in a position to do so. We would love to have some more crayons tested by the start of the 2025/2026 school year (September 2025).

The answer to the question raised in the headline of this article: “How much Lead and Arsenic should be allowed in crayons…”, is a question that does not currently have an agreed upon answer. I will start by offering a first pass for your consideration for a proposed to answer this question. As a first step I would like to suggest that crayons intended for use by children who may eat them (specifically crayons made for toddlers and younger kids), should not have levels at or above the following limits: 5 ppb Lead, 5 ppb Cadmium, 2 ppb Mercury, and 10 ppb Arsenic — these levels tend to be the low limits of detection for most laboratories doing this kind of testing, and so are levels that make a reasonable compromise in trying to reach the goal of “closer to zero” when considering total aggregate allowable toxicant (heavy metals) exposure for young children. If / when labs can easily consistently test to even lower thresholds of detection than those proposed above, at that time we should lower the acceptable levels to bring them even closer to zero.

Given the Lead and Arsenic levels found in the pink crayon were significantly greater than the levels found in the red crayon, it would appear that the substances used to create the white part of the pigment is a major contributing factor to the Lead and Arsenic levels. As our XRF testing indicated these crayons have historically tested positive for Titanium and Zinc (and as Titanium and Zinc are also used as white colorants and for other purposes in toothpastes and sunscreens and appear to be a signficant source of heavy metal contamination for those products)  – we would like to suggest that the  Honeysticks brand look at their Titanium and  Zinc as likely sources of the contaminants found – and possibly source cleaner options for those ingredients to make their products safer for use by young children.

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

Please scroll down to see the full original lab report for the pink and red Honeysticks Beeswaz Crayon products.

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 lab testing and reporting on nominated products.  Tamara Rubin volunteers her time in support of this initiative (see our detailed budget below).

Lead Safe Mama, LLC is closed out the month of June with an operating deficit of about $7,500.00 — primarily because we sent quite a few products to the lab for testing that we did not yet raise funds for – including this Pink Honeystix Beeswax Crayon!  We felt it was important (and relatively urgent) to get many of these products tested asap – as many are either products commonly consumed by young children / used by children, or sunscreen products  (we have reports pending / to be published shortly for more than 40 products).

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

Here also are FIVE specific not-yet-funded campaigns that could use your contributions – if you are in a position to help us cover the costs of testing and reporting for any of these products:

  1. Primal Kitchen Organic & Unsweetened Ketchup
  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

The full original lab reports for the two Honey Sticks Beeswax Crayons in Red and Pink (pictured above) can be found at the bottom of this article (below the sharable social media graphics and below our “lab-tested safer choices” list).

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

The original lab reports (separate reports for each color tested) for this product are at the bottom of this article. Please scroll down.

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).

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.

Are you interested in seeing MORE safer choices?

Below is an expanding list of products (foods, supplements, cosmetics, and personal care items – including sunscreens and toothpastes) 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 variatons 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.

LIST UPDATED — June 29, 2025, Sunday
Now at 75 products + 6 “bonus” options. Scroll down to see all 81 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. 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, from 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. Dairy — 1 — (cheese) — Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: https://amzn.to/3ZY5noO
  23. Dairy — 2 — (coffee creamer) — Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: https://amzn.to/4fHJIWT
  24. Fruit Snack — 1 — (bar) — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Raspberry Lemonade Flavor: https://amzn.to/3XcFsIp
  25. Fruit Snack — 2 — (bar) — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Strawberry Banana Flavor: https://amzn.to/3WQEekA
  26. Fruit Snack — 3 — (pouch) — Costco’s Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/4gOYpZ9
  27. Fruit Snack — 4 — (pouch) — GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/3XhWYLe
  28. Fruit Snack — 5 — (pouch) — Once Upon A Farm Dairy Free Fruit Smoothie Pouch in Strawberry Banana Swirl Flavor: https://amzn.to/3CPMbAw
  29. Infant Formula — 1 — Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (pink and white can): https://amzn.to/3YYb849 
  30. Infant Formula — 2 — Bobbie Organic Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green and white can): https://amzn.to/3VOr4Vy
  31. Infant Formula — 3 — Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green can): https://amzn.to/3ZlAaeJ
  32. Infant Formula — 4 — ByHeart Infant Formula (USA-made, not organic): https://amzn.to/48DJjTb
  33. Infant Formula — 5 — HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula Powder, Stage 1 (imported)
  34. Infant Formula — 6 — HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months) Combiotic Formula  (imported)
  35. 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
  36. Infant Formula — 8 — Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (not organic): This product may be available at Target (it is not available on Amazon)
  37. Infant Formula — 9 — Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European/ British Toddler Formula, for 6-12 months, Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon 
  38. Infant Formula — 10 — Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (from Europe, pink can, not organic), available at Target
  39. Infant Formula — 11 — Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon but may be available at Target
  40. Ingredient — 1 — (baking flour) — Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): https://amzn.to/3LIqxix 
  41. Ingredient — 2 — (beans) — Jovial Organic Chickpeas, Product of Italy: https://amzn.to/4iRON1l
  42. Ingredient — 3 — (vinegar) — Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): https://amzn.to/4jWhHOg
  43. Oil — 1 — (avocado) — Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): https://amzn.to/3YDZSuv
  44. Oil — 2 — (coconut) — Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: https://amzn.to/40xwBmv
  45. Oil — 3 —  (olive) — Bryan Johnson BluePrint Snake Oil Olive Oil (not organic): https://amzn.to/4mMieUj
  46. Oil — 4 — (perilla seed) — Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): https://amzn.to/3NDt7Yc
  47. Plant-Based Milk — 1 — (coffee creamer) — Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: https://amzn.to/4fItA7A
  48. Plant-Based Milk — 2 — (plant milk) — Kiki Milk Organic Plant-Based Milk (original flavor): https://amzn.to/3AA6Qrt
  49. Plant-Based Milk — 3 — (soy milk) — West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: https://amzn.to/4dwev8l
  50. Salt — 1 — Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): https://amzn.to/4dcbk5L
  51. NEW! Salt — 2 —Maldon Sea Salt Flakes**: https://amzn.to/4iTzWTE
  52. NEW! Salt — 3 — Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt** : https://amzn.to/4cVQMiy
  53. Seeds — 1 — (chia) — Navitas Organic, Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico): https://amzn.to/3YvE7xC
  54. Seeds — 2 —  (hemp) — Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: https://amzn.to/4e05RP9
  55. Supplement — 1 — (adult) — Clean Creatine (100% Creapure), Made in Germany (use with caution, please read article): https://amzn.to/43UjrS6
  56. Supplement — 2 — (adult) — Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: https://amzn.to/4hlVvea
  57. Supplement — 3 — (adult) — Nature’s Way Zinc Lozenges: https://amzn.to/4liDz6f
  58. Supplement — 4 — (adult) — Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: https://amzn.to/48q1j2V
  59. Supplement — 5 — (adult) — Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin, Formulated in the USA: https://amzn.to/3QUmZfN
  60. Supplement — 6 — (adult) — Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: https://amzn.to/4gY5wOm
  61. Supplement — 7 — (adult) — Qwell Omega-3 by The Veggie Doctor, Vegan Algae DHA + EPA + DPA: https://amzn.to/45Lbosh
  62. Supplement — 8 — (kids) — Baby Ddrops, Organic Vitamin D3 Supplement for Babies: https://amzn.to/49C3ktH
  63. Supplement — 9 — (kids) — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops with Iron: https://amzn.to/3YPhcgx
  64. Supplement — 10 — (kids) — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Elderberry Liquid Drops: https://amzn.to/42617TU
  65. Supplement — 11  — (kids) — Nordic Naturals Kids Vitamin D3 Gummies (Ages 3+): https://amzn.to/4l7117a
  66. Sweetener — 1 — (sugar) — Anthony’s Organic Granulated Cane Sugar: https://amzn.to/4jf6vLv
  67. Sweetener — 2— (xylitol) — Espure Organic Xylitol: https://amzn.to/3GsCSrU
  68. Sweetener — 3— (xylitol) — Now Real Food Granulated Xylitol: https://amzn.to/4cNWDpM
  69. Toothpaste — 1 —  Aquafresh “FRESH & MINTY” Fluoride Toothpaste, Purchased in London, England (Made in U.K. or Slovakia) – https://amzn.to/4lhRMjO
  70. Toothpaste — 2 — Orajel Kids Training Toothpaste — Fluoride Free — in Natural Berry Fruity Flavor with Elmo Sesame Street packaging: https://amzn.to/41wxtrY
  71. Toothpaste — 3 — Miessence Fluoride-free Mint Toothpaste (AUSTRALIA): https://amzn.to/4bJc4PO
  72. Toothpaste — 4 — Dr. Brown’s Fluoride-free Baby Toothpaste in Strawberry Flavor: https://amzn.to/3DCehzZ
  73. Toothpaste — 5 — Pegciz Kids Foam Toothpaste in Watermelon Flavor, Low Flouride (packaging varies, see report): https://amzn.to/3YzP68e
  74. Toothpaste — 6 — Kid’s Spry Fluoride-free Tooth Gel with Xylitol in Original Flavor: https://amzn.to/41GZb4e
  75. 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

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. This is a good page to bookmark as it is updated several times each week, as new lab reports are published: https://tamararubin.com/lab-reports/

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 reports for the red & pink colors of the crayon product pictured above:

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