Dr. Leeman Serves New Proposition 65 Notices Related to Caramel Color in Food Products
In March 2012, the Center for Science in the Public Interest reported that lab tests showed Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Diet Coke, and Diet Pepsi contained high levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. 4-MEI is used in the manufacture of caramel coloring, giving these cola beverages their distinctive brown colors, and added to a number of foods and beverages for coloring.
On December 3, 2012, Dr. Whitney Leeman, a client of The Chanler Group, served Sixty-Day Notices of Violation of Proposition 65 on McCormick & Company, Inc. and Adams Extract & Spice, LLC, alleging that these companies sold food extract, flavor, and coloring products containing 4-MEI in California without first providing the requisite health hazard warning. The food extracts, flavors, and colorings containing 4-MEI include, but are not limited to, imitation maple flavor, and caramel color. See Dr. Leeman's Notices below.
| Product | Chemical | Alleged Violator | Citizen Enforcer |
| Adams Extract Maple Imitation Maple Flavor |
4-Methylimidazole | Adams Extract & Spice, LLC | Leeman |
| McCormick Culinary Imitation Maple Flavor; McCormick Culinary Caramel Color | 4-Methylimidazole | McCormick & Company, Incorporated | Leeman |
Read the most recent notices issued by clients of The Chanler Group