California Prop 65

⚠ CALIFORNIA WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause reproductive harm.  For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

What is Prop 65?

In 1986, California voters approved Proposition 65, an initiative to address their growing concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals.  That initiative is officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.  The law requires California to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, and for businesses with 10 or more employees to provide warnings when they knowingly and intentionally cause significant exposures to listed chemicals.

This list currently includes more than 900 chemicals. Proposition 65 does not ban or restrict the sale of chemicals on the list.  The warnings are intended to help Californians make informed decisions about their exposures to these chemicals from the products they use and the places they go.

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers the Proposition 65 program.

  

Bare Bones Views on California Prop 65 

What is Prop 65?

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (commonly known as Prop 65) is an initiative that was passed in California that requires the state to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. Since 1986 the list has grown to include around 900 chemicals. The state of California designates a maximum allowable level of each chemical per day, referred to as a safe harbor limit. These limits are then calculated with a threshold of 1,000 times below an observable effect limit. The observable effect limit is often calculated with animal studies. These limits set by California are much more stringent than nationally and internationally recognized limits presented by the FDA, EPA, WHO and EU.

Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to California residents about exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be found in products that California residents purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or may be released into the environment. By requiring that this information be provided, Proposition 65 enables California residents to make informed decisions about their exposures to these chemicals.

How do Prop 65 levels compare with other safety standards?

Various countries and safety organizations have reviewed known studies and science to produce safety guidelines on the levels of heavy metals that can be consumed on a daily basis without causing harm. The Prop 65 levels are among the most stringent, and again, build in a 1,000-fold safety factor below the no observable effect level for chemicals listed as reproductive toxicants. For comparison, where Prop 65 allows for 0.5 mcg/day of lead, the AHPA (Canada's Natural Health Directorate) allows for 20 mcg/day, the FAO/WHO and EU allow for 250 mcg/day, the FDA Tolerable Daily intake is 75 mcg/day, and the ANSI 173 standard is 20 mcg/day.

Do you put lead in your products?

No. Bare Bones does not intentionally add lead to any products.

Lead is an element that exists in nature. It is found in varying degrees across the globe. Lead is widely distributed in the environment and may be found naturally in the earth, soil, and water as a result of geologic deposits of lead. Plants grown in soils containing lead can uptake lead into parts of the plants. Animals eat plants.

Why are you seeing this warning on Bare Bones products?

Lead in the environment can be taken up by plants and ingested by animals and enter the food supply. Testing results that detect lead do not necessarily mean the food should be avoided.

Some of Bare Bones products contain trace amounts of “heavy metal minerals” absorbed from the environment. The State of California requires companies to feature the Proposition 65 warning label for food products containing lead content.

For context, 0.5 micrograms is the maximum allowable dose level (MADL), which is a safe harbor level established by Prop 65 for chemicals that cause reproductive toxicity. This is the level at which a chemical would have no observable effect even if an individual were exposed to 1,000 times this level of lead.

Are Bare Bones products safe? 

Yes. Food safety is our #1 priority. We follow the strict guidelines set forth by Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). We strive to ensure that our products will include minimal heavy metal content by following industry-leading manufacturing practices and do not introduce any contaminants during the production process.