California resolution seeks to add "processed meat" to Proposition 65

In 1986, California voters passed Proposition 65, which, in part, requires food companies to provide warnings on food products if the use of the products would expose California consumers to “chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.” In turn, California Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) recently introduced a resolution in the California legislature to officially declare “processed meat” to be carcinogenic. 

If the resolution is passed, the California agency responsible for overseeing Proposition 65 (the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment) would be urged to add “processed meat” to the Proposition 65 list of chemicals, thereby requiring processed meat to carry warnings. Pursuant to Proposition 65, if a food product fails to carry a required warning, consumer groups, private citizens and/or plaintiffs’ lawyers can bring lawsuits seeking to recover steep civil fines and attorney fee awards.