California Prop 65
California’s Proposition 65 Info — You may have seen this warning on various products:
⚠ WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including arsenic, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
What is California Prop 65?
Formerly known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, Proposition 65 requires the publication of a list of chemicals that the State of California determines cause cancer or birth defects. It also requires companies that sell products containing those chemicals to inform California residents about the risk of exposure by including a warning notice on the product label, or by informing the customer in an approved way before purchase.
Proposition 65 warning notices can be seen throughout California in restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, bars, schools, hospitals, and amusement parks.
Who is required to display a Prop 65 Warning?
Proposition 65 requires companies to put this notice on their products if there is any ingredient that tests over 1/1000th of what the World Health Organization deems as “Safe Harbor Levels” of listed chemicals, which can include some naturally occurring minerals.
While many countries and states rely on federal governing bodies to set these levels, California has created its own laws and stipulations that companies must follow if they plan to do business in the state. No other state or country enforces Proposition 65 law aside from California.
When a company includes a Proposition 65 warning on a product page or label, it does not mean the product is unsafe. The warning is included to inform California consumers of the presence of a Proposition 65-listed chemical so they can make an informed purchasing decision.
It is important to note that heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury can occur naturally in soil and water. As plants grow, they absorb nutrients from the soil and water, including trace amounts of these naturally occurring heavy metals.
If a product contains a naturally occurring chemical in an amount above a Proposition 65 threshold, then a required Proposition 65 warning will be placed on the product page or shown at checkout.
For more information about Proposition 65, visit: https://www.oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65