At Otto’s Naturals, we care deeply about the families who use our products and are committed to transparency when it comes to the ingredients we source and the labels we place on our packaging.
Why is there a warning label on our cassava flour?
California’s Proposition 65 (also known as Prop 65) requires businesses to provide a warning if their products may expose consumers to any one of over 900 listed chemicals, including lead—even in trace amounts.
Cassava isn’t an obscure or new specialty crop—it’s a dietary staple for over a billion people around the world. It’s resilient, widely used, and plays a vital role in global nutrition—especially in tropical and subtropical regions.
Lead is not added or introduced during production. It originates in the naturally occurring mineral content of the soil where cassava is grown. In our case, Brazil—a region renowned for its mineral-rich volcanic soils. As a root crop, cassava naturally absorbs nutrients and minerals from the soil it grows in—without filtering which ones. This includes naturally occurring, unprocessed trace elements like lead.
A qualified agronomist in Brazil studied soil profiles across multiple farm regions and confirmed that lead levels vary naturally due to regional geology—not industrial contamination. This is a natural characteristic of how root crops interact with soil—not a result of contamination or anything added during production.
Why does this matter in California?
California’s Prop 65 law sets the strictest thresholds in the country—especially when it comes to naturally occurring elements found in foods grown in soil. For lead, the allowable daily exposure threshold is just 0.5 micrograms per day. That threshold was designed to reflect even the smallest measurable exposures, including those from natural sources.
To remain compliant with Prop 65 regulations—and to uphold our commitment to transparency—we include this warning label on all cassava flour sold in California:
Our Promise
We believe families deserve transparency and peace of mind. Our mission is—and always has been—to bring joy and confidence back to the table, especially for those with the most to manage.
Cassava is a resilient, globally recognized crop and a dietary staple for over a billion people worldwide. It has a long history of use, and its role as a sustainable crop supports food systems and strengthens communities worldwide. As a family-owned business, we’re proud to offer a product that is rooted in sustainable agricultural practices and helps provide reliable, high-quality food for our families and others.
Our family uses Otto’s cassava flour in our own home and kitchen, just like the families we serve. It’s a part of our daily lives, and we stand behind it with confidence. We hope this helps provide clarity and peace of mind around a concern that’s understandably top of mind.
