NEW: Proposed standard for naturally occurring levels of lead in candy announced by California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA):
- Proposed Adoption of New Chapter and Section Chapter 3: Naturally Occurring Lead in Candy Section 28500: Naturally Occurring Levels of Lead in Candy
- Lead in Candy Hearing Transcript – May 8, 2019 (Spanish)
If you manufacture or sell candy, please review the following important information.
- Lead has been found in some chili and tamarind candy
- Lead has also been found in some candy wrappers
- Lead damages children’s brains and causes irreversible development problems
- It is against the law to sell candy that has more than .1ppm lead in California
- Stay updated on lead in candy with information from the California Department of Public Health. You can get information by phone, email or fax
- Make sure the candy companies you buy from are certified in the state of California
- Ask the companies that you buy candy from for a “Certificate of Compliance” from an independent food quality auditor
- Only sell candy that is certified to be safe for sale in California
- Display the sticker that says “We sell lead-free candy” in a visible place for customers
What to do if you manufacture candy:
- Don’t let the border be a barrier to your business. Download our flier with everything you need to know about manufacturing lead-free candy products in English or Spanish
- Use lead-free packaging companies and lead-free chile powder providers and get information on audits/auditors here
- Read our frequently asked questions for manufacturers and retailers
