JURIST - Paper Chase: California AG seeks chemical warnings on fries, snack food

[JURIST] California Attorney General Bill Lockyer [official profile] is seeking a court order requiring warning labels on foods [AG's press release] that contains acrylamide [research materials], a chemical found in potato chips and french fries that the state believes may cause cancer. Lockyer filed a lawsuit [complaint text, PDF] in Los Angles Superior Court Friday against nine fast food companies and snack food makers, including Burger King, Cape Cod Potato Chips Co./Lance Inc., Frito-Lay, H.J. Heinz Co., KFC Corp., Kettle Foods, McDonalds, Procter & Gamble, and Wendy's, alleging that the companies violated Proposition 65 [legislation text, related resources], a 1986 state law requiring companies to provide notice before exposing the public to known carcinogens or reproductive toxins. In March, the FDA released a statement [FDA press release] that "acrylamide can cause cancer in laboratory animals at high doses, although it is not clear whether it causes cancer in humans at the much lower levels found in food." A spokesperson for Procter & Gamble said, "Acrylamide is available whether those foods are prepared in a restaurant, at home or by the packaged goods industry. We stand behind, and absolutely think, our products are as safe as ever." AP has more. The FDA has additional resources on acrylamide in food.

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