November 2025 Bounty Hunter Plaintiff Claims
Exploring Trends in California’s Proposition 65: Claims, Chemicals, Products, and More
California’s Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”), the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires, among other things, sellers of products to provide a “clear and reasonable warning” if use of the product results in a knowing and intentional exposure to one of more than 900 different chemicals “known to the State of California” to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, which are included on The Proposition 65 List. For additional background information, see the Special Focus article, California's Proposition 65: A Regulatory Conundrum.
Because Prop. 65 permits enforcement of the law by private individuals (the so-called bounty hunter provision), this section of the statute has long been a source of significant claims and litigation in California. It has also gone a long way in helping to create a plaintiff’s bar that specializes in such lawsuits. This is because the statute allows recovery of attorney’s fees, in addition to the imposition of civil penalties as high as $2,500 per day per violation. Thus, the costs of litigation and settlement can be substantial.
The purpose of Keller and Heckman’s latest publication, Prop 65 Pulse, is to provide our readers with an idea of the ongoing trends in bounty hunter activity.
In November of 2025, product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers were the targets of 316 new Notices of Violation (“Notices”) and amended Notices, alleging a violation of Prop. 65 for failure to provide a warning for their products. This was based on the alleged presence of the following chemicals in these products. Noteworthy trends and categories from new Notices sent in November 2025 are excerpted and discussed below. A complete list of all new and amended Notices sent in November 2025 can be found on the California Attorney General’s website, located here: 60-Day Notice Search.
Food and Drug | ||
| Product Category | Notice(s) | Alleged Chemicals |
| Dietary Supplements: Notices include protein powder, pre-workout, and protein shakes | 70 Notices | Lead and Lead Compounds, Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) |
| Assorted Prepared Food and Snacks: Notices include chips, cereal, granola, and almonds | 59 Notices | Cadmium, Lead and Lead Compounds |
| Seafood: Notices include tuna, shrimp, lobster egg roll, and sardines | 29 Notices | Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds, Lead, Mercury, PFOS, and PFOA |
| Fruits and Vegetables: Notices include coleslaw, tomatoes, and broccoli | 14 Notices | Cadmium, Lead and Lead Compounds |
| Noodles, Pasta, and Grains: Notices include macaroni, spaghetti, and cheese tortellini | 7 Notices | Lead and Cadmium |
| Cannabis Products: Notices include cherry limeade, pie, and blunts | 4 Notices | Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Marijuana Smoke |
| Spices, Sauces, and Tea: Notices include matcha powder and turmeric powder | 2 | Lead and Lead Compounds |
| Energy Drink | 1 | Bisphenol A (BPA) |
| Tuna | 1 | BPA |
Cosmetics and Personal Care | ||
| Product Category | Notice(s) | Alleged Chemicals |
| Personal Care Products and Cosmetics: Notices include eye cream, face cream, and lip balm | 6 | Diethanolamine and Lead |
| Personal Care Products and Cosmetics: Notices include blush and pads | 4 | PFOS and PFOA |
Consumer Products | ||
| Product Category | Notice(s) | Alleged Chemicals |
| Household Items and Tools: Notices include drapery weights, ropes, nozzles, and drills | 31 Notices | Lead, Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) |
| Household Items: Notices include hangers, cake tabletop, serving tray, and shakers | 19 Notices | Lead, DEHP, DBP, and DINP |
| Bags and Cases | 17 Notices | DEHP, DBP, DINP |
| Receipts, Thermal Receipts, and Receipt Paper | 17 Notices | BPA and Bisphenol S (BPS) |
| Glass, Ceramics, and Other Housewares: Notices include frames, vases, and salt and pepper shakers | 13 Notices | Lead |
| Household Items: Notices include salad plates, dish cloths, cushions, and cleaning cloths | 10 Notices | PFOS and PFOA |
| Clothing: Notices include suede clogs, sandals, and gloves | 9 | Chromium (Hexavalent Compounds) |
| Clothing: Notices include shorts and shirts | 3 | DEHP and PFOA |
There are numerous defenses to Prop. 65 claims and proactive measures that industry can take prior to receiving a Prop. 65 Notice in the first place. Keller and Heckman attorneys have extensive experience in defense of Prop. 65 claims and in all aspects of Prop. 65 compliance and risk management. We provide tailored Prop. 65 services to a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, cosmetics and personal care, consumer products, chemical products, e-vapor and tobacco products, household products, plastics and rubber, and retail distribution.
To contact us with questions or for more information about California's Proposition 65, email prop65@khlaw.com or call our Washington, DC office at 202.434.4100 or our San Francisco office at 415.948.2800.
