Colgate Kids Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste Watermelon Burst Liquid Gel
At a glance
Summary
Colgate Kids Watermelon Burst Liquid Gel scores 20/100. Marketed for ages 2+, but Lead Safe Mama (Feb 2025) detected 302 ppb lead and 10 ppb arsenic in a kids' product toddlers routinely swallow. Stacks fluoride neurotoxicity with SLS, PEG-12, saccharin, and TWO synthetic petroleum dyes (FD&C Blue 1 + Yellow 5 — the latter EU hyperactivity-warning labeled). Owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company.
Contaminants 4
Source: Lead Safe Mama 2025
Lead 302 ppb High
Detected at a high level — at or above health-based exposure limits. Regular exposure at this level is a genuine health concern. No safe level of lead exposure exists per CDC, AAP, and WHO; chronic ingestion is associated with lowered IQ, neurodevelopmental harm, and cardiovascular and kidney effects. Children swallow a meaningful fraction of every brushing. Suspected source: hydrated silica abrasive feedstock.
Lead Safe Mama 3rd-party lab testing (SGS North America, Feb 2025, AOAC 2015.01) detected 302 ppb lead in a toothpaste explicitly marketed to children ages 2+.
Arsenic 10 ppb Low
A low level of arsenic — present but modest; a sourcing-quality note rather than a safety concern at typical intake.
Lead Safe Mama 3rd-party lab testing (Feb 2025) detected 10 ppb arsenic — at the threshold the medical community uses for cosmetics.
Mercury <5 ppb Not detected
Not detected — below the laboratory's detection limit. This is the strictest possible result: no measurable amount was found.
Lead Safe Mama 2025 lab testing reported mercury below the 5 ppb low threshold of detection — no mercury measurable in this product.
Cadmium <5 ppb Not detected
Not detected — below the laboratory's detection limit. This is the strictest possible result: no measurable amount was found.
Lead Safe Mama 2025 lab testing reported cadmium below the 5 ppb low threshold of detection — no cadmium measurable in this product.
Key ingredients 14
Sodium Fluoride 0.24%Very Bad
Active anticavity ingredient (0.15% w/v fluoride ion). Classified by The Lancet (2014) as a developmental neurotoxicant; chronic ingestion linked to dental fluorosis, lowered IQ in children (NTP 2024 monograph), and thyroid suppression. Particularly concerning in a kids' product designed to be swallowed accidentally.
See more about Sodium Fluoride 0.24% →Sodium Lauryl SulfateVery Bad
Harsh anionic surfactant responsible for the foaming action. Documented trigger for recurrent aphthous (canker) ulcers in clinical studies (Herlofson & Barkvoll 1996, Healy et al. 1999); strips the protective oral mucin layer; common contact irritant. Cleaner toothpastes use coconut-derived alternatives.
See more about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate →FD&C Blue No. 1Very Bad
Synthetic petroleum-derived dye (Brilliant Blue FCF). No nutritional or oral-health justification — purely cosmetic. Linked to hyperactivity in children in Southampton-style studies; banned or warning-labeled in several European countries.
See more about FD&C Blue No. 1 →FD&C Yellow No. 5Very Bad
Synthetic petroleum-derived dye (tartrazine). EU products containing tartrazine must carry a warning that it 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' (EC Reg 1333/2008). Linked to hyperactivity, allergic reactions, and asthma in sensitive individuals.
See more about FD&C Yellow No. 5 →PEG-12Bad
Polyethylene glycol thickener and solvent. PEGs are commonly contaminated with 1,4-dioxane (an EPA likely human carcinogen and IARC Group 2B) and ethylene oxide (IARC Group 1) as ethoxylation byproducts unless explicitly purified.
See more about PEG-12 →Tetrasodium PyrophosphateBad
Synthetic phosphate tartar-control agent. Long-term use is associated with enamel erosion and gum irritation.
See more about Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate →Sodium SaccharinBad
Synthetic sweetener used purely for taste. Associated with gut microbiome disruption (Suez et al. 2014); was on the U.S. NTP carcinogen list until 2000.
See more about Sodium Saccharin →Flavor (undisclosed)Bad
Proprietary 'watermelon burst' flavor blend. Can hide dozens of synthetic aroma chemicals, phthalate carriers, and allergens with zero consumer disclosure under FDA trade-secret rules.
See more about Flavor (undisclosed) →SorbitolNeutral
Sugar alcohol humectant; non-cariogenic.
See more about Sorbitol →WaterNeutral
Solvent base.
See more about Water →Hydrated SilicaNeutral
Standard mild toothpaste abrasive — safe at typical use.
See more about Hydrated Silica →Cocamidopropyl BetaineNeutral
Coconut-derived surfactant — milder than sulfates, though an occasional allergen.
See more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine →Xanthan GumNeutral
Plant-derived thickener; inert and safe.
See more about Xanthan Gum →GlycerinGood
Humectant that draws moisture to the skin — a beneficial base ingredient.
See more about Glycerin →Get the full breakdown in the Scout appTake Scout shopping
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