Dr. Leeman Pursues Enforcement Action Against Tea Manufacturers
Dr. Whitney R. Leeman has issued 60-Day Notices of Proposition 65 to companies offering dried tea, both loose leaf and in bags, that were found to contain the chemical naphthalene, without the requisite health hazard warning. Naphthalene, which is best known as the main ingredient of traditional mothballs, is a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. The noticed companies include Peet's Coffee & Tea, Samovar Tea Lounge, and Coffee Bean Direct.
| Product | Chemical | Alleged Violator | Citizen Enforcer |
| Dried Teas | Naphthalene | Coffee Bean Direct LLC | Whitney R. Leeman |
| Dried Teas | Naphthalene | Hanscomb & Marra Inc. | Whitney R. Leeman |
| Dried Teas | Naphthalene | Peerless Coffee Company, Inc. | Whitney R. Leeman |
| Dried Teas | Naphthalene | Peet’s Coffee & Tea, LLC | Whitney R. Leeman |
| Dried Teas | Naphthalene | Samovar Tea Lounge Online, LLC; Samovar Tea Lounge Yerba Buena, LLC | Whitney R. Leeman |
| Dried Teas | Naphthalene | The Tao of Tea LLC; Piedmont Grocery Company | Whitney R. Leeman |
See our most recent 60-Day Notices.
The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings.