Perfumer's Apprentice & The Flavor Apprentice strongly value the health and safety of our customers and strive to be a leader in providing the greatest access to safety and transparency regarding the ingredients we sell for safe use, handling and consumption.

We believe that being proactive regarding regulations (State, Domestic & International), promoting transparency, and sharing the knowledge we gain with our customers ensures a healthy and responsible supply chain. Not all companies are beholden to this mission, which can create the perception that our products are 'scarier,' however, the reality is that we are responsibly sharing information which allows our customers to make more informed decisions rather than hiding it.

Being a California-based company we face a much greater level of oversight than many other places. This puts us in the position of both advocating for some of these safety measures, while also having to filter through the difficulties they create. Prop 65 is no different in this regard. 

Due to changes in 2018 to the way that Prop 65 regulations handle manufacturers and distributors as well as internet-based companies, you may see warnings on certain product descriptions that have not been there before. Our products have not changed and the presence of these ingredients has always been consistent, known, and available to the public. As with all safety precautions, these warnings should be taken as a starting point for further investigation and knowledge. Prop 65 is intended to raise awareness of the existence of specific ingredients, so consumers can make informed decisions and falls within the scope of ‘consumer right-to-know' as well.

Keep in mind that if an ingredient qualified to be so unsafe that it was banned from public consumption, it would have been. Nearly all Prop 65 warnings on our website are from chemicals which are naturally occurring in many foods, essential oils, and everyday goods. Not that this necessarily makes them 100% safe, but it certainly gives a different frame of mind for thinking about these naturally occurring chemicals.

The ingredients listed as Prop 65 Warning in our flavors are found at high levels in the following common foods and beverages and are NOT required to be disclosed according to Prop 65 because they are 'naturally occurring.' Same chemicals, same reaction with our bodies, different requirements:

• Acetaldehyde (Aldehyde of Acetic Acid): Often found in fermented food at low levels such as milk, soy, canned vegetables and non-alcoholic beverages. Acetaldehyde is a by-product of alcohol during the fermentation process and is also a common food-flavoring ingredient. Highest natural exposure: Alcoholic beverages.

• Myrcene (β-myrcene) - A primary ingredient in the essential oil of several botanicals, including bay, cannabis, ylang-ylang, wild thyme, parsley, cardamom, and hops.  Highest natural exposure: Beer, primarily IPA or heavily hopped beers.

• Benzaldehyde - Most of the benzaldehyde that people eat is from natural plant foods, such as almonds,  apricots, apples. Highest Natural Exposure: Almonds. 

• Pulegone - Commonly found in essential oils of such plants as peppermint, catnip, and pennyroyal. Highest natural exposure: Peppermint Essential Oil.

• Furfuryl Alcohol (Furfurol)  - The highest content of furfuryl alcohol was found in coffee beans, fish products, wines and pineapple juice. This is among a major reason you see Prop 65 warnings at corporate coffee shops. Highest natural exposure: Coffee

• Ethyl Acrylate (2-Propenoic acid, ethyl ester) - Naturally occuring in fruits such as pineapple, durian, blackberries, raspberries and passionfruit. Highest Natural Exposure: Fruit

• Methyl Eugenol (allylveratrol) - Methyl eugenol is found in over 450 species of plants and aides in attracting pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, etc. Highest Natural Exposure: Flowers

• Pyridine - Pyridine is also released into the air from burning cigarettes and from hot coffee, another reason you will see Prop 65 warnings in California coffee shops. It is also found in certain foods such as fried chicken, cheese, and fried bacon. Highest Natural Exposure: Coffeeshops

 

We encourage you to do your own research on each of these ingredients and make an informed decision yourself as to whether you think the science behind the regulation is sound, the exposure is minimal or worth the risk, or if you simply don't care. We will continue to do the best we can to provide the information you need to make informed decisions as a business and/or consumer. If you have any questions, please give us a call.

For more information about Prop 65 - please visit the California website here: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/about-proposition-65