In 1986 The State of California asked its voters a simple question “Do you want toxins in your food”? Leaving the consumer an answer of Yes, or No. Really? Who would say yes? Activists at that point in time were simply trying to pass a law to help improve California’s drinking water. With doing so, it affected a variety of products across the board

• Supplements
• Cleaning Supplies
• Food Dyes and Artificial Colorings
• Pesticides
• Foods

California’s Prop 65 compared to National Standards

Prop 65 has an ever-growing list of chemicals that if used in manufacturing, they have “safe harbor” limits on how much can be in each serving of a product. The first issue with this is, they set those safe harbor limits so low that it’s impossible to not surpass these limits when manufacturing. Prop 65 limits are typically 1000 times lower than what the FDA, the EPA and the WHO have set as acceptable standards.

You can find the list of chemicals here.

Which leads us to the next issue. No one is really explaining where the chemicals and heavy metals come from. Articles such as the Consumer Reports article lead the consumer to believe manufacturers are purposely adding toxins into their products during manufacturing. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Let’s start by discussing some of these chemicals and heavy metals – what exactly are these?

Heavy metals refer to a group of elements that can be toxic when consumed by humans and refer to these elements: Lead(Pb), Mercury (Hg, Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and Chromium (Cr).

Under current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) for dietary supplements, manufacturers of supplements that are sold in the United States are required to: “establish limits on those types of contamination that may adulterate or may lead to adulteration of the finished batch of the dietary supplement to ensure the quality of the dietary supplement.” (Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations § 111.70(b)(3), or 21 CFR 111.70(b)(3)).

Meaning, Thus, the federal cGMP rule does not provide a specific list of heavy metal contaminants that could potentially adulterate a dietary supplement. Instead, manufacturers determine what, if any, heavy metal specifications are appropriate under cGMP for their ingredients and finished products, and what heavy metal tests are needed, whether to meet established specifications or for other purposes. In addition, any self-imposed heavy metal cGMP specification needs to be met by the manufacturer to comply with the federal cGMP rule. This may make it seem like manufactures are tricking you and not testing the products, but this is not the case for products manufactured by SDC Nutrition, Inc. We test all raw materials before they are accepted into our facility, along with third party testing on finished goods.

Heavy metals are naturally occurring components of the earth. They are disbursed into the environment through human activities such a mining. Lead, for example can travel a long ay before finally settling into the soil. These heavy metals can then be absorbed into plants, fruits and vegetables that we plant into the affected soil. For example, cocoa powder is notorious for having elevated levels of lead because the cocoa bean grows in soil. With giving this example, there is a chance for heavy metals to be found in all of the food products you consume that come from the earth.

According to the EPA, lead in our soil can range from 50 to 400 pm with higher concentrations near mining sites. (Lead can travel long distances before settling to the ground and sticking. This can then have possibilities of getting into our drinking water too.)

Prop65 allows 0.5 micrograms per day, but the FDA allows 75 micrograms per day for adults and 6 micrograms for children.

When any business, small or large manufactures their products and limits are surpassed, they are required to place this warning label on their products for the State of California.

Prop 65 states: WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Here’s a list of manufactured products that are anywhere from 8 to 24 X HIGHER in lead than what Prop65 allows. These items require the Pro65 warning to be on their labels and packaging in the State of California. WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

• Shrimp – 23.8 mcg
• Dry Roasted Nuts – 10.2 mcg
• Brussel Sprouts – 7.9mcg
• Sweet Potatoes -7.2 mcg
• Spinach – 7 mcg
• Wine – 6.8 mcg
• Avocados – 4.5 mcg
• Cucumbers – 3.4 mcg
• Peaches -3.4 mcg
• Red Apples – 2.6 mcg
• Strawberries – 2 mcg