Proposition 65

The below Proposition 65 warnings ensure compliance with California law when selling our products to California residents.

WARNING: 
Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including Lead, which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/fact-sheets/foods-and-beverages.

What is Proposition 65?

Proposition 65 is a California-only law that requires companies to tell consumers if their products, including food, contain or cause an exposure to one or more of the chemicals on the State’s list. Nearly 1000 chemicals have been listed under California Proposition 65 as carcinogens or reproductive toxicants, or both. Unfortunately, heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury to name a few, occur naturally in soil and water. As a result, these types of chemicals are often naturally found in commonly eaten foods, even though these chemicals are not intentionally added.

The limits established by Proposition 65 are much more stringent than the ones set by the FDA and international standards. Heavy metals are unavoidable in the environment and trace amounts are found in almost every kind of food grown in soil, including many commonly eaten fruits and vegetables. Produce like brussels sprouts, spinach, collard greens, and many other fresh veggies can contain lead levels in excess of safe harbors established under Proposition 65.

Our Products

Our products may have trace levels of lead and cadmium, but the levels are well within federal guidelines for heavy metals.  

Trace levels of cadmium occur naturally in many soils including volcanic soils. As cocoa trees grow, they absorb the cadmium which then ends up in the cocoa pods that are harvested to make chocolate. The same goes for sunflowers. The seeds uptake cadmium from the soil resulting in trace levels of cadmium in sunflower seed butter.

Lead also is naturally present in soils where cocoa plants are grown and where cocoa beans dried.

The amount of heavy metals can be region specific, and we make a conscious effort to review this with our suppliers. While levels can vary from batch to batch, we are confident that our products are safe to consume. We would never sell you a product that we wouldn’t eat ourselves. 

For more information, please visit https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/fact-sheets/foods-and-beverages.