Proposition 65

What is California’s Proposition 65?

California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, now universally known as Proposition 65, is a law that applies only in the State of California.

Proposition 65 establishes that a list of chemicals used in the State of California which it has determined to cause cancer or birth defects be published and made known to consumers.  It requires any company that sells products that contain any of these chemicals at any level inform customers in California of their presence on a warning label on the product. 

Since the inception of this law in 1986, it has grown to include more than 800 chemicals. Even if a chemical has not been shown to cause cancer or birth defects in humans, but has been shown to do so in animal testing, the chemical is still required to be placed on the Proposition 65 list.

Proposition 65 warning notices can be seen throughout California in businesses of all kinds.

What Chemicals Are on the Proposition 65 Lists?

The chemicals included on the Proposition 65 lists include a variety of naturally-occurring and man-made chemicals.  These chemicals include those found in common household items like foods, medications, alcoholic beverages and nutritional supplements as well as those found in construction materials, pesticides, etc.

Minerals like lead, cadmium and arsenic are naturally occurring throughout the world and because some products naturally contain these compounds, they must have a Proposition 65 warning label on them - this includes certain mineral and botanical medicine ingredients found in some nutritional supplements.

Are Other States Affected by Proposition 65?

Proposition 65 only applies to California residents. Anyone that sells to consumers in California must adhere to the warning labeling set forth by Proposition 65.  Proposition 65 warning notices are not required to be included on the labels of products that are sold in other states.

Are Products with a Proposition 65 Warning Notice Unsafe?

When a company posts a Proposition 65 warning notice on a product label, it does NOT mean the product is unsafe. The label is primarily intended to let consumers know about the presence of a Proposition 65 listed substance so that consumers can make an informed decision.

Think about the difference between a pesticide and a mineral supplement - both may contain a Proposition 65 warning label, but the amounts of chemicals contained within these two different types of products can vary greatly.  

It’s important to note that a warning doesn’t equal a guarantee of danger.  Proposition 65 doesn’t say that if you consume the product that you will have negative health effects from the listed chemical, but more so if you consume multiple products on a daily basis your risk may increase. 

Our mission at Natural Athlete’s Clinic is to educate and assist you in selecting the  best of the best nutritional supplements for your health. Each manufacturer whose products we sell undergoes a rigorous testing methodology of both the raw materials they incorporate and the finished product.  This is the reason we only sell the brands we do, and few others. 

You can learn more about Proposition 65 here:

oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65