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Project – Prop65 Dried Fruit

Prop 65 Compliance for Dried Fruit (Lead + Cadmium + Moisture Concentration Risk)

Access the Full Project Brief:
Download the Dried Fruit Prop 65 Compliance Project Brief (PDF)

Dried Fruit Sits on a Concentration Curve

For dried fruit, the “signature exposure” is lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentration. Removing 70–85% of moisture increases heavy-metal content per gram, meaning small snack-sized servings can approach or exceed Prop 65 thresholds.

Three numbers that define the exposure floor:
  • 0.5 µg/day: Lead MADL (reproductive toxicity)
  • 4.1 µg/day: Cadmium MADL
  • 70–85%: Moisture removed during drying

Why This Matters

  • Drying concentrates metals: µg per gram increases as water is removed.
  • Child-serving sensitivity: School snacks and baby pouches stack daily exposure quickly.
  • Origin variability: Certain orchards and import regions test 2–4× higher in Pb/Cd.
  • Documentation determines settlement risk: Weak exposure files drive most resolutions.

By the Numbers — Exposure Thresholds

  • 0.5 µg/day — Lead MADL
  • 4.1 µg/day — Cadmium MADL
  • ~38% — Food & snack share of 2025 NOV activity

Four Risk Drivers Converge in the Bag

Every dried fruit SKU sold into California carries layered exposure considerations.

  • Soil uptake: Legacy orchard soils contribute baseline heavy metals.
  • Moisture reduction: Concentration multiplier effect.
  • Blended snacks: Trail mix aggregates multiple exposure sources.
  • Infant & child use: Lower body weight increases risk sensitivity.

Water out. Metals up. Without exposure modeling, compliance gaps widen quickly.

Chemical Inventory (Category Chemicals of Concern)

  • Lead (Pb) — MADL 0.5 µg/day
  • Cadmium (Cd) — MADL 4.1 µg/day
  • Arsenic — region-dependent presence
  • Mercury — monitored in certain import streams

Risk Profile by Product Format

  • Dried mango: lead med–high; cadmium med
  • Apricots: lead med; cadmium med
  • Raisins: lead med; cadmium low–med
  • Trail mix: aggregated exposure high
  • Infant fruit snacks: sensitivity high

A Five-Pillar Compliance Program

  • Pillar 1 — Hazard identification: origin mapping; heavy-metal screening
  • Pillar 2 — Exposure assessment: serving-size & daily-use modeling
  • Pillar 3 — Verification testing: ICP‑MS metals analysis per lot
  • Pillar 4 — Warning determination: documented warn vs no-warn logic
  • Pillar 5 — Records & reassessment: 5-year retention; supplier-change triggers

Verification Testing — What, How, How Often

  • Lead & Cadmium: ICP‑MS — per lot (finished product)
  • Arsenic: risk-based frequency
  • Composite sampling: representative lot analysis
  • Trend tracking: monthly QMS review

90-Day Implementation Plan (Three Sprints)

Days 1–30 — Discover

  • SKU-level exposure inventory
  • Historical heavy-metal data review
  • Supplier origin mapping

Days 31–60 — Build

  • Lead & cadmium no-warning files
  • Testing program artifact
  • Supplier compliance matrix

Days 61–90 — Validate

  • Mock NOV tabletop
  • Internal audit & corrective actions
  • QI approval & document control handoff

Build a Defensible Multi-Framework Compliance System for Your Face Powder Portfolio

Consultare Inc. Group designs and operationalizes Prop 65 programs for dried-fruit manufacturers — through heavy-metal exposure modeling, supplier risk controls, and enforcement-ready documentation.

Schedule a Compliance Consultation
Prop 65 · Lead (0.5 µg/day MADL) · Cadmium (4.1 µg/day MADL) · ISO 17025 Testing · Batch-Level Review · Child-Serving Modeling · QI Sign-Off

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