Proposition 65 FAQ

What is Proposition 65 (Prop 65)?

In 1986 California voters approved a law known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, better known as Proposition 65. Proposition 65 is a controversial California law that requires businesses to provide a warning label on products that contain any of over 800 chemicals, even when these chemicals are found in amounts that are exceedingly below the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and internationally recognized standards for dietary supplements (ANSI 173).

Why do Young Living products have the Prop 65 warning?

Young Living’s products are safe, but some are required under California law to have a label, since they include trace amounts of naturally occurring lead, which can be widely distributed through the environment in soil, air, water, and rocks. Young Living does not add lead to its products. The low levels found in each of these products are a result of natural occurrence from the soils where the plants that produced the oils and other ingredients included in these products were grown.

Which Young Living products have the warning label?

5-Day Nutritive Cleanse
AlkaLime
AminoWise
Balance Complete
Cleansing Trio Kit
ComforTone
FemiGen
Gary's True Grit Einkorn Granola
ICP
JuvaPower
JuvaTone
MegaCal
Mineral Essence
MultiGreens
NingXia Nitro
NingXia Red
NingXia Zyng
Organic Dried Wolfberries
Pure Protein Complete - Chocolate
Slique Bars
Slique Bars - Chocolate Coated
Slique Shake
Wolfberry Crisp Bars - Chocolate Coated

How does Prop 65’s standard compare to others across the U.S.?

Prop 65 has among the most stringent standards in the United States. To provide some perspective, Prop 65 mandates a warning if there are more than 0.5 micrograms of lead consumed per serving, while the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) exposure level for infants and children is 60 micrograms per day—making California’s law 100 times stricter than federal standards. Virtually all botanical products contain lead and other heavy metals. For example, the typical amount of naturally occurring lead in 4-ounce servings of the following foods are well above the Prop 65 limit: avocado (4.5 micrograms – mcg), spinach (7.0 mcg), Brussel sprouts (7.9 mcg). As a result, it is extremely difficult to meet Prop 65’s Safe Harbor levels.

Should I be worried about the safety of Young Living products?

Young Living products are safe. A Prop 65 warning does not mean that a product is unsafe. The standards for Prop 65 are extremely stringent—much lower than those established by the FDA. Young Living never compromises on quality and has made a great effort to offer our customers the highest quality oil-infused products that they can feel good about using themselves, with their families, and in their homes.
Young Living’s products are run through a battery of tests in our own laboratory to ensure they meet our quality specifications. Remember that just because another brand doesn’t have a Prop 65 warning label, it does not automatically mean that the other brand is free of the substance or has lower levels. In fact, many other essential oil and supplement companies also carry Prop 65 warning labels.

Are Young Living products in compliance with Federal safety guidelines?

Young Living products that are marked for human consumption are safe and meet all federal requirements. The trace amounts of naturally occurring lead in our products—present in an amount several hundred times below the “no observable effect” level—have no risk or an extremely minimal risk when weighed against the wellness benefits of these products.

What kinds of substances are governed by Prop 65?

As a result of Prop 65’s stringent standards, the law lists chemicals that other government agencies consider perfectly safe. Ordinary foods and drinks, such as coffee, wine, chocolate, and potato chips, contain substances that fall under the Prop 65 warning requirement.

Where can I get more information about Prop 65?

To learn more about Prop 65 and to see a list of the more than 900 chemicals that require a warning label in California, you can go to http://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/about-proposition-65.

What is Young Living’s statement on Prop 65?

In compliance with California’s Proposition 65 and its recent amendments, Young Living will provide a warning label on California shipments of eight products that have trace amounts of naturally occurring lead. The low levels found in each of these products are a result of natural occurrence from the soils where the plants that produced the oils and other ingredients included in these products were grown.
These products are safe for human consumption and meet all federal requirements. The trace amounts of naturally occurring lead in our oils—present in an amount several hundred times below the “no observable effect” level—have no actual risk or an extremely minimal risk when weighed against the wellness benefits of these products.
While Young Living is steadfast in the safety and quality of our products and in providing our customers with the highest quality products they can feel good about using themselves, with their families, and in their homes, we are also committed to being transparent about the cultivation, harvesting, production, distribution, and sale of our products. Young Living continues to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations of the states and countries in which it does business.