Prop 65 Notices

Prop 65 notice 2022-03115: Equal Exchange, Inc.

MONARCH filed this California Prop 65 60-day notice on December 23, 2022. It names Equal Exchange, Inc., Equal Exchange CO-OP and Ralphs Grocery Company and alleges exposure to Cadmium and Lead and lead compounds from Equal Exchange Very Dark 71%; UPC: 4599899013.

The violations below are alleged in a 60-day notice. They are not proven. A 60-day notice is not a lawsuit and not a finding of liability.

AG number
2022-03115
Date filed
Noticing party
Plaintiff attorney
Daniel Greenbaum
Alleged violators
Chemicals
Source or product
Equal Exchange Very Dark 71%; UPC: 4599899013
Official notice
Notice PDF at oag.ca.gov
Official record
Attorney General record for 2022-03115
Last checked
November 11, 2026

What happened after this notice

Outcomes for this notice have not been checked yet. A settlement is not an admission and not a finding that anyone broke the law.

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Other notices naming Equal Exchange, Inc.

  • Equal Exchange, Inc. and 1 more: Lead and lead compounds in Tropical Wholefoods, Dried Mushrooms Shiitake, UPC#5030131120099
    Notice 2023-03029, filed 2023-10-05 by CalSafe Research Center, Inc.
  • Equal Exchange, Inc. and 2 more: Lead and lead compounds in Equal Exchange Organic Dark Chocolate Panama Extra Dark 80%; UPC: 4599899018
    Notice 2022-03116, filed 2022-12-23 by MONARCH
  • Equal Exchange, Inc. and 1 more: Lead in Equal Exchange Organic Green Tea with Ginger
    Notice 2021-01717, filed 2021-07-14 by Environmental Health Advocates, Inc.
  • Endangered Species Chocolate and 15 more: Cadmium, Lead in Dark Chocolate Bar, 88% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Endangered Species Chocolates [lead], Organic & Fairly Traded Dark Chocolate Bar, Ecuador, 65% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Equal Exchange, Inc. [cadmium], Dark Chocolate Bar, 80% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Madecasse, LLC [lead], Dark Chocolate for Baking Bar, 85% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Theo Chocolate, Inc. [lead and cadmium], Smoked Salt Super Dark Bar, 80% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Vosges Haut-Chocolat [lead], Ritter Sport Fine Extra Dark Chocolate Bar, 73% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG [cadmium], Chocolat Stella Noir Extra Dark Chocolate Bar, Costa Rica, 75% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Chocolat Bernrain AG [cadmium], Cocoa liquor WA/Peru, 100% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Fuchs & Hoffman GmbH [lead and cadmium], Pascha Organic Dark Chocolate Chips, Bitter-Sweet, 85% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Machu Picchu Foods SAC [cadmium], Schmerling’s of Switzerland Extra Dark Finest Swiss Chocolate Bar, 85% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen AG [cadmium], deZaan Cacao Powder, 100% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Olam Americas, Inc. [cadmium], Belcolade Cocoa Butter & Natural Vanilla Noir Powder, Peru, 64.5% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Puratos Group NV [cadmium], Dark Chocolate Couverture, 59% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Schokinag-Schokolade-Industrie GmbH [lead], Signature Select Dark Chocolate Bar, 85% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Chocolat Frey AG [cadmium], Premium Baking Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 100% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by First Source, LLC [lead], Fran’s Dark Hot Chocolate Powder, Single Origin Venezuelan, 65% Cacao, which is manufactured, distributed and/or sold in California by Fran’s Chocolate Ltd. [cadmium]
    Notice 2018-01640, filed 2018-08-31 by As You Sow

Recent notices filed by MONARCH

  • Trader Joe's: Cadmium, Lead and lead compounds in Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic Belgium Dark Chocolate 72%; Product Code: 00547833, Trader Joe's Uganda Dark Chocolate Bar 85%; Product Code: 00662925
    Notice 2022-03133, filed 2022-12-23 by MONARCH
  • Trader Joe's: Lead and lead compounds in Trader Joe's Imported from Belgium Pound Plus; Product Code: 00488754, Trader Joe's Organic Dark Chocolate 73%; Product Code: 00705615
    Notice 2022-03132, filed 2022-12-23 by MONARCH
  • Tony’s Chocolonely, Inc. and 1 more: Lead and lead compounds in Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70%; UPC: 858010005627
    Notice 2022-03131, filed 2022-12-23 by MONARCH
  • Theo Chocolate and 1 more: Cadmium in Theo Organic Extra Dark Chocolate 85%; UPC: 874492001544
    Notice 2022-03130, filed 2022-12-23 by MONARCH
  • Simply Natural Snacking LLC and 1 more: Lead and lead compounds in Simply Lite Dark Chocolate 50%; UPC: 070090200185
    Notice 2022-03129, filed 2022-12-23 by MONARCH