Food Additives and Extracts Targeted in Three Prop 65 Lawsuits— at Prop 65 News
Excerpted from full article at Prop 65 News:
Citizen enforcer Whitney Leeman, Ph.D. has filed three Proposition 65 enforcement actions against prominent national food suppliers in San Francisco Superior Court. Named in the lawsuits are spice and flavoring manufacturer McCormick & Company, Inc., coffee and flavoring manufacturer Farmer Bros. Co.; as well as Adams Extract & Spice, LLC.
The complaints allege the defendants have distributed food extracts, flavors and colorings containing levels of the carcinogenic chemical 4-MEI, or 4-Methylimidazole exceeding the Proposition 65 Safe Harbor level without providing a clear and reasonable warning.
4-MEI is frequently added to food products for its caramel color. It was first added to Prop. 65's list of chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer in January of 2011.
“This particular compound has been listed as a carcinogen for two years now, but many products still contain the toxic chemical without the labeling required by law,” said Clifford Chanler, whose firm represents Leeman and other Proposition 65 citizen enforcers. link to source