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California Proposition 65

SupplyLand products meet or exceed strict federal safety standards; however, Proposition 65 (Prop 65) requires that some of our products include the following notice when sold in the state of California:

www.P65warnings.ca.gov

Please note, Proposition 65 does not ban the sale of products containing these chemicals; it only requires the notices. Additionally, these warnings do not necessarily mean certain products are unsafe. 

What is Proposition 65?

In 1986, voters in California approved an initiative commonly referred to as Prop 65. When first created, it was designed to prevent toxic chemicals from being dumped into California waters. It also required warnings on products that contained certain hazardous chemicals. Initially there was good reason for the law, but it has since resulted in unanticipated complications.

Which chemicals are included in Prop 65 and what levels of chemicals require this warning?

Prop 65 applies to chemicals that the state of California identifies as carcinogens and reproductive toxins. The extent of exposure and toxicology of the chemicals that might actually cause cancer, birth defects, and/or reproductive harm are heavily debated. Although the list originally included about 30 chemicals, it has since grown to include approximately 900 different chemicals.

Prop 65 does not set limits on the amount of any one chemical a product can contain, but it does set “Safe Harbor” exposure levels to identify when label warnings are required. These levels are often 1,000 times lower than the No Observable Adverse Effect Levels (NOAELs) recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), European Union (EU), and World Health Organization (WHO).

Example: When sugars and amino acids are heated above 248 degrees Fahrenheit, a chemical called Acrylamide is formed. This process occurs in the production of many food products such as prune juice, toasted nuts & peanut butter, some breads & cereals, canned black olives, potato chips, some cookies & crackers, French fries, when popcorn is popped, and when coffee beans are roasted. Acrylamide is included on the Prop 65 list because exposure to high levels can increase the risk of cancer, cause birth defects, or other reproductive harm; which is why coffee customers in California will be greeted with a Prop 65 warning right between the cream and the sugar.

Click here for a current complete listing of chemicals that fall under California Proposition 65.