Food Safe Harbor Warning

A food safe harbour warning is a specific Proposition 65 safe harbour warning format for foods that expose consumers to listed chemicals above safe harbour levels. OEHHA’s December 2024 amendments (effective January 1, 2025) added a new short-form food warning option under Title 27 CCR §25607.53. For food products, the long-form warning has historically been required; the new short-form food warning option must include the name of at least one listed chemical. For cancer risk: ‘Consuming this product can expose you to [chemical name], a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food.’ Similar format applies for reproductive toxicants.

Title 27 CCR §25607.53 (food short-form warning, added effective January 1, 2025); OEHHA Clear and Reasonable Warnings regulations.

Food manufacturers, restaurants, cafés, grocery retailers, and food distributors must ensure that any food product containing listed chemicals above safe harbour levels displays a compliant warning. For food sold in restaurants and retail stores, on-site signage, menus, or product labelling are common transmission methods. The new January 2025 regulations added flexibility with short-form food warnings but require chemical name identification. Businesses selling food online must ensure warnings are visible before purchase and prior to exposure.