Proposition 65

You might be asking ...

Why do I see a Proposition 65 warning on p.o.p. candy co. packs in retail shops?

We include the warning because we have learned that acrylamide, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity, can be produced from nuts and butter cooking at a high temperature. 

The warning does not mean that our products will cause any harm and it does not mean that our products are in violation of any product safety standards or requirements.

The California government has stated that “the fact that a product bears a Proposition 65 warning does not mean by itself that the product is unsafe.” It has noted, “You could think of Proposition 65 more as a ‘right to know’ law than a pure product safety law.” There's more information about this at https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

We have elected to provide the Proposition 65 warning to error on the side of caution and to ensure compliance. Note that a product without a Proposition 65 warning label isn’t necessarily safer. A different product with nearly identical ingredients and/or similar cooking processes might not contain a warning.

What is Acrylamide?

Acrylamide has probably always been present in cooked foods. However, it was first detected in certain foods in April 2002. It is a chemical that can form in some foods during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, roasting, and baking. Major food sources of acrylamide are French fries and potato chips; crackers, bread, and cookies; breakfast cereals; canned black olives; prune juice; and coffee.

A large number of epidemiologic studies in humans have found no consistent evidence that dietary acrylamide exposure is associated with the risk of any type of cancer.  More helpful information about this is at https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/acrylamide-fact-sheet

What is Proposition 65?

Proposition 65 (the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) is a law that requires warnings be provided to California consumers when they might be exposed to chemicals identified by California as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity.

It requires all businesses selling products in the state of California to provide “clear and reasonable warnings” if any of its listed chemicals are in the foods or beverages they offer, or if they are in the air in a business or a public facility.

The warnings are intended to help California consumers make informed decisions about their exposures to these chemicals from the products they use.  

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers the Proposition 65 program and publishes the listed chemicals, which includes more than 850 chemicals.  It maintains a comprehensive website at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65, which explains the law and offers a list of all the chemicals and a number of ways to get more information.

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