BPA and Label Warnings

What happened to the BPA free icon?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic synthetic material that after extensive study, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says is being safely used in food packaging. Despite this, California added BPA to the list of more than 800 chemicals and substances under California Proposition 65. Of significant note is that California added BPA with zero tolerance, even though the FDA says it is safe. Some product packaging distributed by Crown Prince may have traces of BPA, although most of our products are packaged in cans that no longer use BPA in the can lining. Since BPA is ubiquitous in the environment, traces may be detected in items that were labeled “BPA Free”.

All products distributed by Crown Prince meet or exceed all Federal food safety and purity standards.

California Prop 65 and PFOA and/or PFNA Warnings

You may have seen a California Prop 65 warning for PFOA (perfluorooctanoate) or PFNA (perfluorononanoic) on one of our products. Under Prop 65, if one of these compounds can be detected, we must give the warning. These compounds aren’t added to Crown Prince products, but can be present due to being in the environment.

Does this warning mean our products are unsafe?

No, it does not. Prop 65 is a right to know law, to inform of the presence of certain substances.

Should I continue to serve and eat seafood?

Yes. Here’s what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) website (https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/questions-and-answers-pfas-food) says about PFOA and related compounds:

1. Is the food supply safe?

The U.S. food supply is among the safest in the world. The FDA is working to understand the occurrence of PFAS in the general food supply by testing for certain PFAS chemicals, including perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). To date, we have found that most foods not grown or produced in specific geographic areas with known PFAS contamination do not have detectable levels of PFAS.

For good nutrition and for food safety, the FDA recommends that consumers eat a varied, well-balanced diet. See more information on the Federal Dietary Guidelines website.

4. Should I stop eating seafood to reduce my PFAS exposure?

For consumers wondering if they should change their dietary habits related to seafood, we reiterate our recommendation that you and your children eat a variety of healthy foods, including seafood. Seafood provides many nutrients to support a child’s brain and immune system development. Eating seafood can provide several other health benefits too, including for adults. Eating seafood has been shown to benefit heart health.

What programs are in place to assure the safety of Crown Prince products regarding PFOA and PFNA?

At the federal level:

While the U.S. currently has no federal maximum limit for PFOA in seafood, FDA has analytical and surveillance systems in place to assure imported seafood that it considers a safety risk does not reach US consumers. For example, the FDA analyzes seafood for PFOA levels and then evaluates the products on a case-by-case basis.

At Crown Prince:

We follow applicable food safety regulations, select our seafood suppliers with care, and work closely with them to ensure our products are safe and meet regulatory standards. In the case of PFOA and PFNA, if trace levels are found, Crown Prince works with our suppliers to reduce PFOA and PFNA.

In Summary:

The Prop 65 warning reflects California’s precautionary labeling requirements and provides additional information to consumers, but it does not change the fact that Crown Prince products are safe and comply with applicable safety standards.