Grocery Retailers Are Invited to Join Stakeholder Workgroup on Warnings for Toxic Chemicals in Food

The One Sentence Summary: The California agency charged with developing regulations to enforce the state’s “Proposition 65” law that requires retailers and manufacturers, among others, to give warnings about exposure to chemicals that cause cancer and birth defects, has just announced the formation of a voluntary workgroup for stakeholders.

Full Posting:

April 18, 2008 is the deadline for membership applications for representatives of several interest groups, including Large Grocery Retailers, Small Grocery Retailers, Food Manufacturers, Environmental Groups, public prosecutors, and private enforcement groups. Meetings of the Food Warning Workgroup are expected to start in April. More information can be obtained by contacting fkammerer@oehha.ca.gov .

The Workgroup will advise the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”) about possible regulatory language on how to provide warnings about chemicals in foods. The Workgroup will also consider issues concerning the content of such warnings.

Among the issues for retailers and other stakeholders are: How best can retailers deliver warnings to customers? Can retailers use alternative methods of delivery, such as brochures and websites?

In addition to retail representatives, the Workgroup may also include staff from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the California Department of Public Health, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.