California Proposition 65
California Residents
At Lymph Bright, your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. This page explains California Proposition 65, the warning labels you may see on certain products, and what they mean.
What is California Proposition 65?
California Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was created to prevent the contamination of drinking water with toxic substances. The law requires California to maintain and update a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. This list, managed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), now includes over 800 substances.
Why is there a warning label on my product?
Although our products meet or exceed all federal and international safety standards, California law requires a warning label for many consumer goods, including dietary supplements, if they contain any listed chemicals.
Example warning: “This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.”
This requirement applies even if the levels of the substance are significantly lower than federal safety standards. You may also find similar warnings in places like restaurants, gas stations, and hotels.
Does this mean the product is unsafe?
No. The warning label does not indicate that a product is inherently dangerous. In fact:
The law requires warnings even when listed substances are present in trace amounts.
California’s "safe harbor" limits are often much stricter than federal guidelines. For example, lead levels permissible under Proposition 65 are nearly 1,000 times lower than those deemed safe by the FDA.
These substances are often naturally occurring and present due to environmental factors beyond our control.
What substances are included?
The list includes a wide range of chemicals, some naturally occurring and others introduced by human activity. Examples include:
Arsenic: Found in soil, air, and water, sometimes increased by fossil fuel combustion.
Lead: Naturally occurring in soil but elevated due to past industrial uses. Even organic produce like spinach and carrots can contain low levels of lead due to soil absorption.
While these substances are monitored closely, their presence in trace amounts is often unavoidable and not a cause for concern under federal guidelines.
The Bigger Picture
While the intent of Proposition 65 is to promote safety, its implementation has created challenges for businesses and consumers:
Companies, including those in natural products and agriculture, are held accountable for pollutants introduced by unrelated industries.
Businesses must prove that their products are safe to avoid the need for warning labels, even when the risks are negligible.
Civil litigation enforcement encourages frivolous lawsuits that disproportionately affect small businesses.
What Can You Do?
If you are concerned about Proposition 65:
California Residents: Contact your state legislators to share your thoughts about the law and its impact on consumer confidence. You can find your representative at the California State Legislature Directory.
Residents in Other States: Communicate your concerns to your federal Congressional Representative. Visit the House of Representatives Directory to find your representative.
For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at management@lymphbright.com.
