Today we are releasing new test results that show detectable levels of heavy metals arsenic, lead, and cadmium in some fake meat products–enough in some instances to appear to trigger Proposition 65.
Prop 65 is a California law that requires a warning when consumers are exposed to chemicals that the state believes may cause cancer or reproductive harm. The state can set “safe harbor” limits for trace amounts of these chemicals, for which no warning is required.
In a few instances, the levels of lead appear to trigger a warning label under Prop 65. Additionally, the state of California proposed a draft limit on arsenic some years ago; if it was implemented, most samples would have exceeded this level. (That sounds like something the lawyers might have to hash out. Prop 65 can be enforced by private action.)
Back in February, we released test results showing that some of these same products tested for unsafe levels of a carcinogen called acrylamide.
Acrylamide forms when cooking certain vegetable proteins in the synthetic meat. But in this case, it’s not clear where the heavy metals are coming from.
One suspicious possibility: A lot of soy and pea protein is processed in China. And China has a poor history of food safety scandals. Draw your own conclusions.
