Heavy metals are naturally occurring in all the food products we consume on a daily basis and are simply unavoidable in any food products that contain plant materials and are produced from animals that consume plant materials. Simply stated, plants grow in soil.  Soil contains minerals.  As plants grow, they absorb those minerals, some of which are heavy metals that are unavoidable. As a general matter, farmers attempt to limit the uptake of heavy metals to the extent it is practicable, which can also come from other factors, but it cannot be eliminated entirely from our food supply.  

To address these concerns, reputable third parties including governments have determined acceptable levels of heavy metals in food to ensure the foods are generally safe for consumption on a regular basis. Industry has also developed good agricultural practices to help reduce the level of heavy metals in produce. These safeguards are all designed to ensure that consumers do not ingest an excess amount of heavy metals. 

As a company that sells consumable plant-based products, we agree with our consumers and remain vigilant when it comes to heavy metals. We don’t want you or your families to ingest more than safe levels, but we do want to eat our plants and vegetables. So, unlike other brands, we test our products and if they exceed the California Prop 65 limits, we label them with the appropriate warnings so consumers can make their own decision on whether to purchase our products. We do not, however, release any product with a heavy metal level that would be considered violative of the law. 

For guidance on safety thresholds please refer to https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/general-info/proposition-65-no-significant-risk-levels-nsrls-and-maximum-allowable-dose-levels-madls