According to Prop 65 The Disneyland Picnic Area Could Kill You (And The Wonders Of Bentonite Clay)

As a resident of California, I have a complicated relationship with Disneyland.  Although I take issue with its claim as the happiest place on earth (obviously, the VanMan restaurant holds that title), the resort brings in a ton of money to the local economy.  Since I also own a business in the state, I cringe at how many rules and regulations an organization of that size has to contend with on a day-to-day basis.  Many of these regulations can lead to absurd results.  For example, Disneyland has to warn park goers that the picnic area they are in could kill them.  If they don’t, they risk getting fined into oblivion.

If you can’t read the sign, it says “The Disneyland Resort Contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.”  Does anyone think that the picnic area is going to kill them?  No.  Does Disneyland still have to post the warning?  Yes.  Unfortunately, we have to post the same warning on our tooth powder because of the logical results of Prop 65.

What Is Prop 65?

California’s Proposition 65 is not a food or product safety law.  Instead, it is a notification law that requires notice to be given when there are chemicals or substances that could potentially cause cancer or birth defects.  The challenge for businesses is that the act has over 900 substances included (and counting, as it is updated every year), and the triggering amount for this warning is extremely low.  So low, in fact, that you get absurd results like Disneyland having to put warnings in its picnic areas.

Some of the substances on the list occur naturally in nature and are everywhere in our environment.  They can be found in the water, soil, and rocks.  Even the air that we breathe contains substances on the list.  This means that commonly eaten foods require the warning because trace elements that trigger the proposition are often found in them, even though they aren’t even part of the manufacturing process.  

This is the reason you will see warnings on VanMan’s Miracle Tooth Powder because one of its amazing ingredients is bentonite clay.  The very things that give bentonite clay its positive benefits are what trigger Proposition 65. 

The Benefits of Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay has been used for generations as a natural binder to help absorb heavy metals.  It can be used internally or externally to draw out toxins, which can help reduce inflammation.  It is these very properties that is the reason that I chose to use it in VanMan’s Miracle Tooth Powder.  It also has a high concentration of minerals including silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and potassium.  Furthermore, it has classically been used to help with skin conditions, digestive problems, bacterial infections, and detoxification in addition to its dental health benefits.

So if Bentonite clay is so awesome, why do we display the Prop 65 warning?  Because, as I said before, the earth has trace elements of substances that “make the list”.  Because of California’s regulatory environment, we have chosen to add the warning label to make sure we comply with the regulation.  It’s the same label you will see on rice, coffee, chocolate and even seaweed if you buy those things in California.  The label does not mean that a product is unsafe.  It just means that it may contain an element on the list, even if it is at safe or microscopic levels. 

Does this stop millions of people from buying chocolate every day in California?  No.  What it does do, however, is desensitize the consumer to ignore the labels because it is practically on everything.  The VanMan Company can’t solve that problem.  We can only comply with regulations the best we can while manufacturing all-natural products for you and your family to enjoy. 

I refuse to change the recipe of the product that started it all because of a government regulation.  Your safety, and your family's safety, will always be my number one priority.  It is why I do what I do.  This includes your oral health as well.

So ditch the fluoride toothpaste (which does not require a warning.  Imagine that?) and fight the power by picking up the original VanMans Miracle Tooth powder today.  And if you find yourself in Disneyland, don’t be afraid to go into the picnic area.  The most dangerous thing you will find will be toddlers ramped up on sugar.

What’s VanMan Cooking Up Next?

Next issue, we will be back on our normal scheduled topics and talk about how amazing tallow is.  Until then, always remember . . .

The van never stops,

VanMan