Prop65 FAQ

What is Prop65 or Proposition 65?

Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is a unique law in the U.S. State of California.

It requires businesses to notify California consumers about significant exposures to chemicals that the state has listed as causing cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. The list of chemicals is extensive and updated yearly.

Does Proposition 65 Apply to Your Purchase in South Africa?

No. Since we operate in South Africa (or outside of California) and sell primarily to consumers outside of California, this law does not legally apply to your purchase.

  • 🐟We include this information purely out of a commitment to transparency and to ensure our customers have access to the same information you might find on a product sold in California.

  • 🐟The warning is a "right-to-know" notice and not a determination that the product is unsafe.

Why Do You Mention It?

Many products, including tinned seafood, are sometimes required to carry a Proposition 65 warning if they are sold in California.

  • 🐟In seafood, the warning is typically related to trace amounts of naturally occurring heavy metals like Cadmium or Mercury, which are common in the marine environment and can accumulate in fish.

  • 🐟Because we value consumer awareness, we proactively share this information so you can make an informed choice, regardless of where you live.

What Does a Warning Signify for Seafood?

A Proposition 65 warning related to seafood generally indicates the presence of a listed chemical, like a heavy metal, that is often naturally occurring in the product's raw ingredients due to the environment they were sourced from.

The standards for a warning are extremely strict:

  • 🐟The law requires a warning if the exposure level poses a theoretical risk of more than one in 100,000 over a 70-year lifetime.

  • 🐟In practice, this means the warning is often triggered by levels far below international safety standards set by other regulatory bodies for food consumption.

  • 🐟A warning does not mean a product is dangerous or in violation of South African or other international food safety standards. It simply informs you that the chemical is present.

Where Can I Find More Information?

If you wish to learn more about the specifics of the law, you can visit the official California government website for Proposition 65 warnings: