OEHHA Considers Adding Soy Sauce Ingredients to Prop. 65 List

California EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has announced a meeting of its Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) on September 21-22, 2010, to consider whether to list 1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol (1,3 DCP) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2 diol (3-MCPD) under Proposition 65 (Prop. 65). These chemicals are apparently produced by treating proteins from hydrolyzed vegetables, such as soya, with hydrochloric acid and are commonly found in soy and related sauces that are not produced using traditional fermenting processes. They have also been found in malt products, sausage, minced beef, ham, and battered and fried fish.

Public comments on the 1,3 DCP and 3-MCPD documents that OEHHA has prepared on the basis of a recent request for information must be filed by August 24, 2010.