Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires businesses to provide warnings to residents of California about potential exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in the products that California residents purchase, in their homes and workplaces, or that are released in the environment. By requiring that this information be provided, Proposition 65 enables Californians to make decisions about their exposures to these chemicals. Prop 65 affects numerous categories of products, including dietary supplements.
Currently, there are over 900 chemicals, including cadmium, mercury and lead that are listed under California Prop 65 that are classified as reproductive toxicants or carcinogens or both. Several chemicals naturally occur in the water that we drink, the air that we breathe and the soil where we grow our food. A wide range of products ranging from common household cleaners, food, drugs, dyes, electronics, footwear, toys, solvents and yes, many dietary supplements, will list Prop 65 warnings due to containing heavy metals and other chemicals. In addition to consumer products, you will find Prop 65 warnings in restaurants, schools, hotels, grocery stores, and even on some internet retailer websites and catalogs. The purpose of these warnings is to inform California residents of the potential risks involved with consuming certain levels of chemicals.
For dietary supplements, the metals of concern include lead, arsenic, and cadmium.
The following chart reflects the Prop 65 limits for theses heavy metals:
California Proposition 65 Daily Limits for Heavy Metal Composition:
|
Lead Arsenic Cadmium |
0.5 mcg (μg) 10 mcg (μg) 4.1 mcg (μg) |
By comparison, the following charts reflect the levels that are more commonly acceptable in our industry:
FDA Tolerable Daily Diet Lead Intake:
|
Adults |
12.5 mcg (μg) |
United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Limit for Nutritional Supplements:
|
Lead Arsenic Cadmium Mercury |
10 ppm 3 ppm 3 ppm 3 ppm |
We wish to assure you that all of the formulas we provide are well within the typical limits established for heavy metal content, but certain products are going to exceed the much more restrictive levels established by the California Proposition 65.
It has become extremely common for Californians to find a warning sticker or label on numerous of products that reads as follows:
California Proposition 65 WARNING: Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including [chemical name] which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food.
If products under your private label are being sold to consumers in California, you need to make certain that you comply with Prop 65 requirements. If possible, the very best safeguard is to label or sticker every retail package being sold in California with the Prop 65 warning.
We are committed to labeling all Vitalabs brand products being sold to consumers and retailers in the State of California with a Prop 65 warning sticker.
If you would like more information, visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food.
We sincerely appreciate your cooperation in this matter, and please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information.
