California Prop 65 and Garry N Sun Safety Methods
California’s Prop 65 is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that requires strict standards on toxic chemicals and heavy metals in products. While Prop 65 is a great step forward in regulating the safety of consumer products, it can also be confusing to navigate for businesses. To keep the transparency and authenticity of our products, we have listed all information regarding the Prop 65, and how we comply and adhere to its standards. You can rest assured that our products remain safe. The warning has been added to comply with Proposition 65 to ensure our continued service to California customers.
What is California Prop 65?
California’s Proposition 65, or “Prop 65”, requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals or heavy metals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in the products that Californians purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment. By requiring warnings on products containing harmful chemicals, Prop 65 gives Californians the opportunity to make informed decisions about their exposures.
What does Prop 65 include?
There are over 900 chemicals on the Prop 65 list, which is updated at least once a year. The list includes many common and naturally occurring metals, such as lead and mercury. It also includes some man-made chemicals that are used in everyday items, such as certain phthalates found in plastic toys and electronics. Chemicals can be added to the list by several different mechanisms, including:
• A unanimous vote of the Scientific Advisory Panel
• A petition signed by a qualified scientist
• An identification by an authoritative body like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
When a chemical is added to the Prop 65 list, businesses have one year to comply with warning requirements before enforcement begins.
How much Lead Exposure is Bad?
If a consumer consumes more than 0.5 micrograms of lead per day from a product sold in California, a warning is required. This is a very low level that is, by law, 1000 times lower than the level of exposure that has been shown to have no observable effect on humans or animals. Due to this, the law establishes a very strict warning threshold.
Pros and Cons of California Prop 65
There are pros and cons to California Prop 65. On the pro side, it requires companies to list all of the chemicals in their products that could potentially cause cancer or birth defects. This allows consumers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase. On the con side, some argue that Prop 65 is too broad and that it creates unnecessary fear among the public.
Are Garry N Sun Products Safe?
Yes, Garry N Sun products are safe. Our herbs and products meet the internationally accepted safety standards for dietary supplements (ANSI 173).
We use only the highest quality ingredients and our products are tested for safety and efficacy. We follow all industry standards for safety and our products are made in India.
We are USDA Certified. Our products are made with organic or wild-crafted herbs sourced from reputable small-yield farmers and regional tribals. Wild-crafted means grown in nature on unpolluted land without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. Our well-established working relationship with those who know the land the best allows us to bring the best to you.
Do Garry N Sun products contain chemicals, heavy metals or Lead?
No, our products have no chemical preservation - No benzoin, parabens, or SLS. The original vibrational intelligence of our raw materials is full of Prana. We then maintain the lively prana with the Pranic-preservation system, handed down to our sources through his ancient lineage. This system maintains the prana found in the living plant. The herb does not ‘die’ during harvesting, packaging, or the formulation's shelf-life.
We never have and never will produce or offer Rasa Shastra medicines, which are a type of Ayurvedic remedy utilizing metals and can contain levels of lead many thousands of times greater than herbal-only formulations. These particular items typically originate in India then enter the US illicitly, leading to much confusion regarding safety of Ayurvedic herbs.
How are Garry N Sun herbs tested for heavy metals?
At Garry N Sun, we take heavy metal testing seriously. All Garry N Sun products are tested for heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides. We use only the highest quality ingredients, and our products are vegan and cruelty-free. We rigorously test for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury), residual pesticides, and microbiological contamination (E. coli, coliforms, staph, salmonella, etc.).
We further ensure safety and purity through our unique sterilization method involving ozone, gentle steaming, and UV light. This method sterilizes the herbs without any compromising on their effects.
We believe that it is important to be proactive in testing our herbs for heavy metals so that we can identify any potential problems and take corrective action if necessary.
If Garry N Sun products are safe, why is there a reproductive harm warning?
The State of California has a law called Proposition 65 (also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986), which requires the state to publish and maintain a list of 800+ chemicals, including heavy metals, known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Businesses must also notify Californians when these chemicals exceed certain levels if Prop 65 is followed.
Garry n Sun products comply with the ANSI 173 safety standards, which demand that products show levels of lower than 20 mcg/day; even when taken in accordance with the instructions on our labels. Rather than restrict our customers’ access to whole herb products in California, we have chosen to provide the warning outlined by Proposition 65. Moreover, our products are well below the ‘no observable effect’ level as established by the science which forms Prop 65.
What is the comparison between Prop 65 levels and other safety standards?
Safety organizations from different countries have reviewed existing scientific studies and developed guidelines defining the amount of heavy metals that can be ingested without causing harm. These Prop 65 limits are stringent, as a 1000-fold safety factor has been applied to chemicals listed as reproductive toxicants. To provide an idea of variation in standards, the AHPA suggests 0.5 mcg/day of lead, while Canada's Natural Health Directorate allows 20 mcg/day, the FAO/WHO and EU approve 250 mcg/day, the US FDA Tolerable Daily Intake is set at 75 mcg/day, and Garry N Sun complies with ANSI 173's 20 mcg/day limit.
Conclusion
As a California resident, it is important to be aware of Proposition 65 and the associated health risks. While the warnings may seem intimidating, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. We never compromise on quality or take shortcuts.
We wholly commit to preserving your access to whole herbs instead of extracts and “active ingredients”. The powder form made from dried plants is a tried and true approach to taking Ayurvedic herbs, passed down from teacher to student for millennia. We feel nature's ingenuity surpasses that of humans, which is why Ayurveda depends on the entire plant, not just the part most reputable in a laboratory setting. Many aspects of herbal remedies are yet to be deciphered by Western science due to their inclination towards dogmatic principles - an outlook differed from Eastern teachings.
Our spice mixes smell freshly ground because they are! Made only in small batches. And because we do not use fillers, chemicals, or coloring agents. Our massage oils are made with a base of high food-grade unrefined sesame oil, and the herbs are classically processed in highly filtered sesame oil and/or organic coconut oil.
At Garry N Sun, Quality and Prana Matter.
For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food.
