California Prop 65 Testing
Compliance Analysis
Protect your brand from lawsuits with our accredited California Prop 65 testing services. Specifically, we provide ultra-low level detection of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, and Mercury to ensure compliance with California's Safe Harbor limits.
Navigate Regulations with Prop 65 Compliance Screening
California Proposition 65 (The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) is one of the strictest chemical regulations in the world. Specifically, it requires businesses to provide a Clear and Reasonable Warning if their product exposes consumers to chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.
Why Heavy Metals Are the Primary Risk for Food Brands
For food manufacturers, the primary risk involves naturally occurring heavy metals a subset of our broader chemical contaminant testing. Unfortunately, a simple "Pass" from an FDA perspective may still fail Safe Harbor limits, and as a result, this can lead to expensive lawsuits. Therefore, you should also ensure your nutrition facts labels are compliant alongside any Prop 65 warnings. Ultimately, AGT Food Labs delivers the precise, low-level California Prop 65 testing needed to determine whether your product requires a warning label before it ships into the California market.
The California Prop 65 Testing Process
From sample submission to exposure calculation, we guide you through compliance.
California Prop 65 Testing Services
Specialized screening designed to detect "The Big 4" heavy metals at trace levels.
Heavy Metals Screen for Prop 65
We test for the four heavy metals most commonly cited in Prop 65 lawsuits using ICP-MS heavy metal testing per AOAC 2015.01 (SOP 046) under our PJLA ISO/IEC 17025 scope. However, standard labs often rely on ICP-OES, which has detection limits in the ppm range — too high for Prop 65. In contrast, our ICP-MS reaches parts-per-billion (ppb) sensitivity, which is essential for accurate California Prop 65 testing and, importantly, for preventing False Pass results that lead to litigation.
Wider element panel: When buyers need more than the Big 4, we extend coverage to a 13-element ICP-MS panel (Zn, Cu, Se, Cr, Mn, Sn, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Ni) per AOAC 985.01 / 993.14 (SOP 047).
- Lead (Pb): The #1 cause of Prop 65 notices.
- Cadmium (Cd): Common in cocoa, seeds, and shellfish.
- Arsenic (As): Total arsenic by ICP-MS — conservative screen for the inorganic NSRL. AGT does not offer arsenic speciation.
- Mercury (Hg): Concern for seafood products.
Exposure Calculation for Prop 65
Prop 65 limits are based on Total Daily Exposure (µg/day), not just concentration (ppm). In other words, a simple concentration number doesn't tell the full story. Therefore, we perform the critical math for you:
Concentration (ppm) × Daily serving size (g) = Exposure (µg/day)
Example: A protein powder has 0.1 ppm Lead.
• If serving is 5g: 0.1 × 5 = 0.5 µg/day (PASS)
• If serving is 50g: 0.1 × 50 = 5.0 µg/day (FAIL — Warning Required)
In addition, we help you define the correct serving size and compare your results directly against the MADL (Maximum Allowable Dose Level). Accurate California Prop 65 testing combines low-level ICP-MS data with this exposure math; otherwise, failure to meet Safe Harbor limits can result in costly litigation.
Technical Capabilities
Using advanced ICP-MS technology to reach parts-per-billion (ppb) detection under our ISO/IEC 17025 scope.
| Analyte | Method Reference | Technique | Typical Limit of Quantitation (LOQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | AOAC 2015.01, SOP 046 | ICP-MS | 5 ppb (0.005 ppm) |
| Cadmium (Cd) | AOAC 2015.01, SOP 046 | ICP-MS | 5 ppb (0.005 ppm) |
| Arsenic (Total) | AOAC 2015.01, SOP 046 | ICP-MS | 10 ppb (0.010 ppm) |
| Mercury (Hg) | AOAC 2015.01, SOP 046 | ICP-MS | 5 ppb (0.005 ppm) |
| 13-Element Metals Panel | AOAC 985.01 / 993.14, SOP 047 | ICP-MS | varies by analyte |
Industries We Serve
California Prop 65 testing across the food & beverage categories most often cited in 60-Day Notices.
Understanding Prop 65 Safe Harbor Limits
Prop 65 sets specific limits for Cancer (NSRL) and Reproductive Toxicity (MADL). Notably, exceeding these requires a warning label. Our guide to Prop 65 safe harbor levels for lead, cadmium and arsenic shows how to convert a lab result into per-serving exposure.
Lead (Pb) Limit
0.5 µg/day (MADL)
This is the most strictly enforced limit. As a result, consuming just one serving containing >0.5 micrograms of Lead may trigger a warning requirement.
Cadmium (Cd) Limit
4.1 µg/day (MADL)
This is often an issue in chocolate, sunflower seeds, and spinach. Consequently, exceeding this daily intake level poses a reproductive toxicity risk.
Arsenic Limit
10 µg/day (NSRL)
The Prop 65 NSRL applies specifically to Inorganic Arsenic (the toxic form). For this reason, our scope reports Total Arsenic by AOAC 2015.01, which is the conservative screening proxy. AGT does not offer arsenic speciation.
Common At-Risk Product Categories
Heavy-metal exposure varies sharply by ingredient. As a result, these categories most often trigger California Prop 65 testing reviews.
| Product Category | Primary Metal of Concern | Typical Safe Harbor Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate & Cocoa Products | Cadmium, Lead | High — bean origin and shell residue drive elevated levels |
| Protein & Greens Powders | Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic | High — concentrated plant matter aggregates soil metals |
| Rice & Rice-Based Foods | Arsenic (reported as total arsenic) | High — rice uptakes arsenic from paddy soils |
| Seaweed & Sea Vegetables | Inorganic Arsenic, Cadmium | High — marine bioaccumulation |
| Seafood (large fish, shellfish) | Mercury, Cadmium | High — top of the food chain accumulation |
| Sunflower & Pumpkin Seeds, Spinach | Cadmium | Moderate — naturally cadmium-accumulating crops |
| Spices, Herbs & Botanicals | Lead, Cadmium | Moderate–High — soil contamination and processing exposure |
Common Questions About California Prop 65 Testing
Expert answers for food manufacturers regarding Prop 65 compliance.
What is the legal limit for Lead under Prop 65?
What is a "60-Day Notice"?
Are Organic products exempt from Prop 65?
How is Prop 65 different from FDA regulations?
Does a positive test mean I cannot sell my product?
Don't Wait for a Notice of Violation.
Schedule accredited California Prop 65 testing today and sell with confidence in the California market.
Request a Prop 65 Screen