Tag Archives: CALIFORNIA

FDA Publishes Statement on the Salinas-Linked Romaine Lettuce E. Coli 0157:H7 Outbreak and Status Update on Investigations

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On December 12, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, reported an update of its investigation tracking three separate outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce caused by three different strains of E. coli O157:H7.  FDA reported that, through its traceback investigation … Continue Reading

California Finalizes the Listing of Cannabis (Marijuana) Smoke and Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol as Reproductive Toxicants Under Proposition 65

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As our readers may recall, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) tasked the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) of OEHHA’s Science Advisory Board with evaluating whether cannabis (marijuana), marijuana (cannabis) smoke, cannabis extracts, and Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) have been shown to cause reproductive toxicity for purposes of listing under California’s Proposition 65 … Continue Reading

California Department of Toxic Substances Control Considering Prioritization of Ortho-phthalates, Bisphenol A, and Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Food Packaging

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Last week, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) hosted a webinar where it presented initial findings from its evaluation of food packaging, conducted under its Safer Consumer Products Regulations.  During the webinar, DTSC noted that it is considering the prioritization of ortho-phthalates (OPs), bisphenol A (BPA), perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and/or styrene in … Continue Reading

California Chamber of Commerce Challenges Proposition 65 Warnings for Acrylamide

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On October 7, 2019, the California Chamber of Commerce (“CalChamber”) filed suit in federal court against the California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, to block the state from enforcing Proposition 65 warning requirements on foods containing acrylamide.  Acrylamide is a naturally occurring compound that develops when starches and sugars are cooked at high temperatures.  According to … Continue Reading

California’s Proposition 12 Challenged on Constitutional Grounds

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As our readers may know, in November 2018, California voters passed a ballot initiative known as Proposition 12, which establishes new standards for confinement of certain farm animals and bans the sale of products that do not comply with the new confinement standards. Specifically, Proposition 12 requires that all eggs sold in the state come … Continue Reading

FDA Partners With Leafy Greens Stakeholders in Arizona to Enhance Food Safety

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The FDA has partnered with the University of Arizona, the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District (WMIDD), and members of the Yuma area leafy greens industry, with support from the Arizona Department of Agriculture, to better understand the ecology of human pathogens in the Yuma agricultural region.  The Yuma agricultural region encompasses Yuma County in Arizona … Continue Reading

EPA Refuses to Approve Glyphosate Labels with Proposition 65 Cancer Warning

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In a direct rebuke of Proposition 65’s listing of glyphosate as a carcinogen, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a press release on August 8, 2019 announcing that it would no longer approve glyphosate labels with the Proposition 65 warning for cancer.  EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is quoted in the press release as stating, … Continue Reading

California Redefines “Beer” to Align with Federal Definition

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On July 9, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 205, which redefines beer under California’s Alcohol Beverage Control Act.  AB 205 allows for beer to be produced with honey, fruit, fruit juice, fruit concentrate, herbs, spices, and other food materials. Under the prior California law, “beer” was defined as “any … Continue Reading

Bayer/Monsanto Hit Again With $2 Billion Verdict in Roundup Case

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This blog has closely followed litigation surrounding allegations that glyphosate has caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a number of plaintiffs. In March, a California jury awarded $80 million in damages to a plaintiff who used Monsanto’s Roundup on his 56-acre property. This verdict was the second significant glyphosate judgment against Bayer-owned Monsanto, following on the August 2018 … Continue Reading

California’s Proposition 65 Website Posts Styrene Fact Sheet

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California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has posted a fact sheet regarding styrene on its Proposition 65 warning website, also known as the Lead Agency Website. OEHHA listed styrene as a carcinogen under Proposition 65 on April 22, 2016, and on May 4, 2017, the state adopted a No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) for styrene of … Continue Reading

California Jury Awards $80 Million Verdict in Glyphosate Case

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A California plaintiff, who used Roundup on his 56-acre Santa Rosa property and alleged glyphosate caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been awarded $80 million by a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  The docket of the case, Hardeman v. Monsanto Co. et al., is available here (subscription required).  This … Continue Reading

San Francisco to Propose Banning Sale of E-Cigarettes

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The San Francisco City Attorney, in coordination with the City’s Board of Supervisors, announced on March 20, 2019 that it will introduce legislation to prohibit the sale and delivery of e-cigarettes in the City unless such products have been established as “appropriate for the protection of the public health” through the Food and Drug Administration … Continue Reading

FDA Publishes Findings from Investigation of Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak

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As previously reported on this blog, in November 2018 FDA, in conjunction with the CDC, state officials, and Canadian food and public health officials, investigated an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections in multiple US states and Canadian provinces. The investigation determined the cause of the outbreak was the consumption of contaminated romaine lettuce. Indeed, … Continue Reading

Court Rules En Banc for Injunction Against San Francisco’s Health Warning Requirement for Soft Drink Ads

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  As previously covered on this blog, the City of San Francisco passed legislation in June 2015 that required health warnings to be placed on advertising for sugar-sweetened beverages (i.e., nonalcoholic beverages with caloric sweeteners that contain more than 25 calories per 12 oz.). Specifically, the warning would have read: “WARNING: Drinking beverages with added … Continue Reading

What to Know about California’s New Proposition 12 Requirements on Farm Animal Confinement

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During the November 2018 election, California voters passed a ballot initiative known as Proposition 12, which establishes new standards for confinement of certain farm animals and bans the sale of products that do not comply with the new confinement standards.  The ballot initiative amended an existing California Health and Safety Code section, Chapter 13.9 (“Farm Animal Cruelty”).  … Continue Reading

U.S. Department of Justice Sides with California Against States Opposing Egg Production Standards That Require Room for Chickens to Move

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As reported here, Missouri and twelve other states asked the U.S. Supreme Court on December 4, 2018 to hear their challenge to provisions of the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act that require any eggs sold in the state to come from hens that have space to stretch out in their cages. The plaintiffs … Continue Reading

California Proposes Amendments to Proposition 65 Regulation on the Responsibility to Provide Consumer Product Warnings

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In response to confusion regarding Section 25600.2 of the new Article 6 warning regulations, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed amendments to clarify how a product manufacturer—and other parties that may receive the products before the retailer—can pass warning information (and the responsibility to warn) along the supply chain and ultimately … Continue Reading

Proposed Amendments to Proposition 65 regulations on Calculating Level of Exposure to Chemicals Causing Reproductive Toxicity; California Extends Comment Period

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California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed to amend Section 25821(a) and (c) of the Proposition 65 regulations, which dictate how to calculate exposure to reproductive toxicants for average consumers.  Currently, Section 25821 requires simply that exposure be determined by multiplying the “level in question” (i.e., the concentration of a chemical in … Continue Reading

California Signs Bill Allowing Sale of Home-Cooked Food

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California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law on September 18, 2018 which will allow Californians to sell food they make themselves, a practice that was previously outlawed due to health concerns.  Assembly Bill 626, also known as the Homemade Food Operations Act, amends California’s Health and Safety Code to establish strict guidelines for … Continue Reading

FDA Issues Statement Regarding Labeling Coffee as a Carcinogen Consistent with California Proposition 65

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California Proposition 65 requires manufacturers to provide clear and reasonable warnings to consumers before exposing them to over 950 listed carcinogens, including acrylamide.  As reported in this blog yesterday, California’s regulations for reporting the presence of the carcinogens have changed.  Also as previously reported in this blog, producers of roasted coffee have been sued under … Continue Reading

New Proposition 65 Warning Regulations Take Effect Today

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As previously reported on this blog, in 2016 California passed new regulations redefining what makes a warning “clear and reasonable” under Proposition 65; those regulations become effective today.  Proposition 65 is a right-to-know law that requires manufacturers to provide a clear and reasonable warning to consumers before exposing them to over 950 listed carcinogens and … Continue Reading

California Passed Nation’s First Kids’ Meal Bill

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In another effort to limit consumption of sugary drinks, California passed Senate Bill 1192, the nation’s first statewide kids’ meal bill. The bill requires that water, sparkling water, flavored water, unflavored milk, or a nondairy milk alternative are the default beverage in kids’ meals, instead of soda or other sugar sweetened beverages. The bill does … Continue Reading
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