In 1986, California voters approved the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (known as “Proposition 65”). Proposition 65 is a "Right to Know" statute; its purpose is to make sure people are aware, before they purchase, that the product they come into contact with contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. The statute requires a warning label even if the amount of the chemical is miniscule.

The State of California has listed over 900 chemicals that must be disclosed under Prop 65. The list, which is updated annually, includes a wide variety of chemicals that can be found in many consumer products, such as kitchen utensils, footwear and handbags, exercise equipment, photo and scrapbook albums, luggage, and many other products (even foods and beverages).