From vitamin supplements to home furnishings, the California Prop 65 warning seems like it’s posted on just about everything. Find out about what this warning means and how you can make informed, safe choices for your family.
You’ve probably seen the label. “Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.” This is the California Prop 65 warning label, and it causes a lot of confusion among consumers.
Some of us may see the warning label and avoid the product, and some may not give much pause before buying the product anyway. After all, these warning labels are everywhere.
That said, all parents want to keep their children safe from dangerous toxins, so it’s important to know more about these warnings. After all, we deserve to know what’s in the products we purchase for our children and our home.
The History of California’s Proposition 65
Enacted in 1986, Prop 65, formally known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. At the time, there was a large concern about the safety of California drinking water from oil spills and solvent runoff. Celebrities like Jane Fonda, Cher, and Rob Lowe supported the bill, and it was voted for by the state’s population.
The new law called for “businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.” This includes all products that consumers purchase or interact with. In 1987, 235 toxic chemicals were added to the California Prop 65 list. If a product contained these chemicals, it required a warning label. The list is reviewed annually and as of 2020, the list contains over 900 chemicals.
Until 2018, a Prop 65 warning label only had to state that a product contains a chemical recognized by the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm. After 2018, the label’s requirements changed. Every label now includes a yellow warning triangle with an exclamation point. It also identifies the exact chemical(s) of concern in the product. In addition, there’s a statement leading people to California’s right to know website.
Noe that the FDA and the EPA do regulate products and set standards for safe consumption on the federal level. However, Prop 65 goes beyond these starndards and often has lower threshold limits for specific toxic chemicals.
Related: How to Reduce Your Baby’s Exposure to Glyphosate and Other Pesticides
Purpose and Benefits of Prop 65
Even though it’s posted everywhere, there are a few really wonderful benefits to the California Prop 65 warning.
More Information for the Consumer
Prop 65 shifts the burden of proof from the consumer to the business. This way, a company has to tell you upfront if a product contains hazardous chemicals. It keeps the company accountable. And as the consumer, you can weigh the risks associated with the product. While it can be a little nerve-racking to see a warning for cancer, it’s always better to be armed with more information than none at all!
Better Products
As a consequence of this law, many manufacturers have changed how they formulate products. If they don’t want to have to put a warning label (that could scare away customers) on everything they produce, they can remove additives from their products.
Prop 65 has definitely served as a catalyst for the removal of toxic chemicals from everyday products. For example, toluene has been removed from nail polish. Arsenic has been removed from bottled water, and toxic air emissions have been significantly reduced.
But remember, a Proposition 65 warning label is just that: a warning label. The law doesn’t create any penalty for going over limits set by the state’s Scientific Advisory Panel. It simply requires that manufacturers inform consumers.
Disadvantages to Proposition 65
Seeing a warning label can be alarming and cause unnecessary concern and stress– especially among parents who are trying to keep their children safe! While the purpose might be to warn customers of toxins before they are exposed, the label has some downsides.
No Harm from Chemical
Just because a product has a warning label doesn’t automatically mean that it’s toxic. It may just mean that a small amount of a potentially toxic chemical is present.
Many of the compounds on the list of “Chemicals known to the state (of California) to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity” have a reference dose set. This dose set is at 1/1000th the amount shown to actually show harm. But given that there are over 900 chemicals on the list, scientists don’t have a reference dose for every single compound. Some chemicals don’t have a set limit simply because there is no safe amount.
So, while a product label may ominously suggest it could give you cancer or cause birth defects, often it probably can’t do anything to you in such small quantities. There are federal regulations, too.
Misleading Consumers
Sometimes this standard can be misleading and cause concern over things that would otherwise be healthy choices. For example, β-Myrcene naturally occurs in carrots, mangoes, and lemongrass. It’s also in flavorings and fragrances for natural lotions and soaps. To test this chemical’s safety, it was fed in large quantities, 5 days a week, for two years, to rats. It turns out, this huge chronic dose of β-Myrcene was carcinogenic to rats. For that reason, it is on the list of hazardous chemicals, despite the fact that we don’t get nearly the same amount of β-Myrcene when we eat carrots or use lotion!
So now, when natural product companies wish to make something that contains lemongrass oil, it’s cheaper and easier to add the warning than it is to risk major fines from the State of California. So, the consequence is that a perfectly safe product can have a warning label on it.
Briefly, French fries and coffee even had Prop 65 warnings due to a chemical called acrylamide. When you fry or roast plant-based foods like potatoes or coffee beans, acrylamide forms. And while it’s been around since the dawn of cooking, scientists first became aware of the compound in 2002 and attached a warning label to it.
After an initial flurry of panic concerning acrylamide, the FDA issued a statement that it’s impossible to avoid this compound (and we really don’t need to worry about it). Coffee has a special exemption, and they dropped the warning label. As you can see, there are a few potential downsides to the warning label, but all in all, it’s nice to be aware of any potentially toxic chemicals present.
Related: Non-Toxic Baby Toys: A Guide to the Safest Toy Brands for Babies
The Chemicals To Avoid
While Proposition 65 has had many fantastic results of cleaning up emissions and toxicants in products, it has also caused some unnecessary fear, especially among parents. For that reason, it’s a good idea to know which chemicals to avoid. This way, you can make more informed choices when you’re purchasing items for your family.
Phthalates
Commonly found in plastics and vinyl as well as health and beauty products, phthalates are something to avoid. You’ll often find that the term “fragrance” in the ingredient list. This indicates that the product may contain phthalates. These compounds are endocrine disruptors and linked to reproductive issues as well as cancer.
When choosing anything from lotion to hairspray, look specifically for products labeled “phthalate-free.”
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Vinyl
Beyond phthalates, there are several reasons to avoid vinyl, including carcinogenic volatile organic compounds. Unfortunately, you can find vinyl in a lot of furniture and kids’ products. This is especially true when you’re looking for something waterproof to protect from leaks and stains!)
Thankfully, there are many alternatives for waterproof baby and children’s products on the market; you just have to know what to look for. You can find a waterproof crib and mattress pads, as well as changing pads that are safe for your child and don’t contain any toxic chemicals.
Heavy metals
Metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are all extremely toxic. They can be found in older or cheaply painted toys, costume jewelry, or even produce grown in contaminated soil.
I personally avoid any children’s product that has a California Prop 65 warning for lead. It’s just not worth the risk. Plus, no children’s product should ever contain lead or any other heavy metal – no matter how small the quantity.
Flame retardants
You will often find flame retardants in polyurethane foam, including memory foam, mattresses, and upholstered furniture. These are volatile organic compounds that can be carcinogenic. You’re more apt to find flame retardants in older crib mattresses, so avoid hand-me-downs if possible.
Fortunately, there are now very clear labels on furniture that explicitly state whether flame retardants are present. Check out these posts for more info on safe nursery furniture.
Bottom Line: Use Your Best Judgement
Hopefully, this article has given you some clarity on how to respond the next time you see a warning label for a cancer-causing chemical. Treat it like you would any other warning: Note it, but do a little research to see if it’s something you need to be concerned about.
With the new label system, research should be easier than ever. You can learn more about the specific chemical and discover whether it’s likely at a level that is actually toxic, or if you and your child are safe from the product despite the warning label.
You can also contact the manufacturer to ask for more information about the warning and find out exactly where the chemical is in the product and how much of that chemical is contained in the product.
FAQs
More questions about Prop 65? Read on!
Why do I see these warning labels when I don’t live in California?
Even if you live on the other side of the country, you will likely still see these warning labels on products. That’s simply because products are usually sold nationwide. Rather than making separate labels just for the products that end up in California, it’s easier to label everything, regardless of where it gets distributed. The label can benefit us all regardless of what state we live in!
What products are affected by the California Prop 65 Warning?
All consumer and household goods are subject to the California Prop 65 warning label when sold in California. This includes furnishings, toys, electronic items, clothing, food, home improvement materials, and other home goods.
What if a store says all their products are California compliant?
If a product is California Prop compliant, it means that the product follows all guidelines and does not require a California Prop 65 warning label.
What if I want to find out more about the chemical in the product with a California Prop 65 Warning?
I always recommend that you reach out directly to the company. Often, companies will need to reach out to the vendor or manufacture to confirm details of the warning, but they should be willing to make that effort on your behalf. Make sure they answer your questions sufficiently. Some products also come with Material Safety Data Sheets to let you see exactly what chemicals are in the product and how they may/may not be hazardous.
Has Proposition 65 been successful in protecting consumers from toxic chemicals?
Definitely! Since the California Prop 65 came into existence it has really motivated businesses to find safer compositions and ingredients for their products. A warning can definitely turn customers away! Reformulation has also occurred if a company has violated the California Prop 65 law and resulted in all kinds of legal battles and litigation. Companies prefer to avoid that! I think the warning label itself has also shown potential customers what’s in the products they are buying. It gives them the power to choose whether or not they want that product. It leads to greater awareness of potentially toxic chemicals in products and allowed us all to speak up and demand better, safer consumer goods for our homes and families.
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