NOTICE OF VIOLATION

California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act

Lead in Molasses

September 7, 2018

This Notice of Violation (the “Notice”) is provided to you pursuant to and in compliance with Health and Safety Code section 25249.7(d).

 For general information regarding the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, see the attached summary provided by the California EPA (copies not provided to public enforcement agencies).

 This Notice is provided by the Center for Environmental Health (“CEH”), 2201 Broadway, Suite 302, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 655-3900. CEH is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to protecting the environment, improving human health, and supporting environmentally sound practices. Charlie Pizarro is the Associate Director of and a responsible individual within CEH.

Description of Violation:

 Violators: The names and addresses of the violators are identified on the attached Exhibit 1.

 Time Period of Exposure: The violations have been occurring since at least September 7, 2015, and are ongoing.

 Provision of Proposition 65: This Notice covers the “warning provision” of Proposition 65, which is found at California Health and Safety Code Section 25249.6.

 Chemical(s) Involved: The names of the listed chemicals involved in these violations are lead and lead compounds (“Lead”). Exposures to Lead occur from consumption of the products identified in this Notice.

 Type of Product: The specific type of product causing these violations is molasses. Non-exclusive examples of this specific type of product are identified on the attached Exhibit 1. Further limitations, if any, on the specific products subject to this Notice for each individual violator are also identified on Exhibit 1.

 Description of Exposure: This Notice addresses consumer exposures to Lead. Consumption of the products identified in this Notice results in human exposures to Lead. The products contain Lead. The primary route of exposure for the violations is direct ingestion when consumers eat the products or food from which

these products are made. These exposures occur in homes, workplaces and everywhere else throughout California where the products are consumed. No clear and reasonable warning is provided with these products regarding the carcinogenic or reproductive hazards of Lead.

Resolution of Noticed Claims:

Based on the allegations set forth in this Notice, CEH intends to file a citizen enforcement lawsuit against each alleged violator unless such violator agrees in a binding written instrument to: (1) recall products already sold; (2) provide clear and reasonable warnings for products sold in the future or reformulate such products to eliminate the Lead exposures; and (3) pay an appropriate civil penalty based on the factors enumerated in California Health and Safety Code Section 25249.7(b). If any alleged violator is interested in resolving this dispute without resort to expensive and time-consuming litigation, please feel free to contact CEH through its counsel identified below. It should be noted that CEH cannot: (1) finalize any settlement until after the 60-day notice period has expired; nor (2) speak for the Attorney General or any District or City Attorney who received CEH’s 60-day Notice. Therefore, while reaching an agreement with CEH will resolve its claims, such agreement may not satisfy the public prosecutors.

Preservation of Relevant Evidence:

This Notice also serves as a demand that each alleged violator preserve and maintain all relevant evidence, including all electronic documents and data, pending resolution of this matter. Such relevant evidence includes but is not limited to all documents relating to the presence or potential presence of Lead in molasses; purchase and sales information for such products; efforts to comply with Proposition 65 with respect to such products; communications with any person relating to the presence or potential presence of Lead in such products; and representative exemplars of each unit of any such products sold by each alleged violator in the year preceding this Notice through the date of any trial of the claims alleged in this Notice.

Please direct any inquiries regarding this Notice to CEH’s counsel Eric S. Somers at Lexington Law Group, 503 Divisadero Street, , CA 94117, (415) 913-7800, esomers at lexlawgroup.com.

EXHIBIT 1 September 7, 2018 Notice of Violation Lead in Molasses

Names and Addresses Further Limitation Non-Exclusive Examples of Responsible Parties on Type of Products of the Products

Plantation Blackstrap Allied Old English, Inc. Unsulphured Molasses 100 Markley Street n/a SKU No. Port Reading, NJ 07064 0-70258-02403-1

Sweet Select Barkman Honey, LLC Molasses Unsulphured 120 Santa Fe Street n/a SKU No. Hillsboro, KS 67063 0-73299-04200-6 Product No. OT558442

JFC International, Inc. Dynasty Bead Molasses 7101 E. Slauson Avenue n/a SKU No. , CA 90040 0-11152-02472-1

Natural American Foods Natural American Foods, Inc. Blackstrap Molasses Unsulphured 10464 Bryan Highway n/a SKU No. Onsted, MI 49265 0-81279-14401-5 Product No. OT385794

Natural American Foods Paper House, Inc. Blackstrap Molasses Unsulphured 905 G Street SKU No. Hampton, VA 23661 0-81279-14401-5 Sold by Barkman Product No. OT385794 Food Service Direct Honey, LLC or Natural Logistics, LLC American Foods, Inc. Sweet Select 905 G Street Molasses Unsulphured Hampton, VA 23661 SKU No. 0-73299-04200-6 Product No. OT558442

Wholesome Organic Save Mart Supermarkets Sold by Wholesome Molasses Unsulphured 1800 Standiford Avenue Sweeteners, Inc. SKU No. Modesto, CA 95350 0-12511-60000-6

Smart & Final Stores LLC 600 Citadel Drive Commerce, CA 90040 First Street Sold under the Light & Sweet Molasses Amerifoods Trading First Street brand SKU No. Company LLC 0-41512-08846-9 600 Citadel Drive Commerce, CA 90040

Total Sweeteners, Inc. Dynasty Bead Molasses (dba Batory Foods) Sold by JFC SKU No. 1700 Higgins Road, Ste 300 International, Inc. 0-11152-02472-1 Des Plaines, IL 60018

Whole Foods Market California, Inc. 5980 Horton Street, Ste. 200 Plantation Blackstrap Emeryville, CA 94608 Sold by Allied Unsulphured Molasses

Old English, Inc. SKU No. Mrs. Gooch’s Natural 0-70258-02403-1 Food Markets, Inc. 207 Goode Avenue, 7th Floor Glendale, CA 91203

Wholesome Organic Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. Molasses Unsulphured 14141 Southwest Fwy, Ste. 160 n/a SKU No. Sugar Land, TX 77478 0-12511-60000-6

1 PROOF OF SERVICE

2

3 I, Nick Redfield, declare:

4 I am a citizen of the and employed in the County of San Francisco, State of California. I am over the age of eighteen (18) years and not a party to this action. My business 5 address is 503 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 and my email address is [email protected]. 6 On September 7, 2018, I served the following document(s) on all interested parties in this 7 action by placing a true copy thereof in the manner and at the addresses indicated below:

8 NOTICE OF VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA SAFE DRINNKING WATER AND TOXIC ENFORCEMENT ACT; 9 CERTIFICATE OF MERIT; and 10 THE SAFE DRINKING AND TOXIC ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 1986 11 (PROPOSITION 65): A SUMMARY (only sent to those on service list marked with an asterisk). 12 ☒ BY MAIL: I am readily familiar with the firm’s practice for collecting and processing mail 13 with the United States Postal Service (“USPS”). Under that practice, mail would be deposited with USPS that same day with postage thereon fully prepaid at San Francisco, California in the 14 ordinary course of business. On this date, I placed sealed envelopes containing the above mentioned documents for collection and mailing following my firm’s ordinary business practices. 15 Please see attached service list. 16 ☐ BY FACSIMILE: I caused all pages of the document(s) listed above to be transmitted via 17 facsimile to the fax number(s) as indicated and said transmission was reported as complete and without error. 18 ☒ BY ELECTRONIC MAIL: I transmitted a PDF version of the document(s) listed above via 19 email to the email address(es) indicated on the attached service list [or noted above] before 5 p.m. on the date executed. 20 Stacey Grassini, Deputy District Attorney Yen Dang 21 Contra Costa County Supervising Deputy District Attorney 900 Ward Street Santa Clara County 22 Martinez, CA 94553 70 West Hedding Street, West Wing [email protected] San Jose, CA 95110 23 [email protected] Michelle Latimer, Program Coordinator 24 Lassen County Allison Haley, District Attorney 25 220 S. Lassen Street Napa County Susanville, CA 96130 1127 First Street, Suite C 26 [email protected] Napa, CA 94559 [email protected] 27

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1 Stephan R. Passalacqua, District Attorney Christopher Dalbey, Deputy District Sonoma County Attorney, Santa Barbara County 2 600 Administration Drive, Rm. 212J 1112 Santa Barbara Street Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 3 [email protected] [email protected]

4 Phillip J. Cline, District Attorney Mara W. Elliott, City Attorney Tulare County City of San Diego 5 221 S. Mooney Avenue, Rm. 224 1200 Third Ave, Suite 700 6 Visalia, CA 93291 San Diego, CA 92101 [email protected] [email protected] 7 Paul E. Zellerbach, District Attorney Gregory D. Totten, District Attorney Ventura 8 Riverside County County 4075 Main Street 800 South Victoria Avenue 9 Riverside, CA 92501 Ventura, CA 93009 [email protected] [email protected] 10 Paul E. Zellerbach, District Attorney Gregory Alker, Assistant District Attorney 11 Riverside County San Francisco County 4075 Main Street 732 Brannan Street 12 Riverside, CA 92501 San Francisco, CA 94103 [email protected] [email protected] 13 Jeff W. Reisig, District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, District Attorney 14 Yolo County Sacramento Country 301 Second Street 901 G Street 15 Woodland, CA 95695 Sacramento, CA 95814 16 [email protected] [email protected]

17 Dije Ndreu, Deputy District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth, Deputy District Attorney Monterey County San Luis Obispo County 18 1200 Aguajito Road County Government Center Annex, 4th Monterey, CA 93940 Floor 19 [email protected] San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 [email protected] 20 Tori Verber Salazar, District Attorney San Joaquin County Jeffrey S. Rosell, District Attorney 21 222 E. Weber Avenue, Room 202 Santa Cruz County Stockton, CA 95202 701 Ocean Street 22 [email protected] Santa Cruz, CA 95060 [email protected] 23 Nancy O’Malley, District Attorney 24 Alameda County 7776 Oakport Street, Suite 650 25 Oakland, CA 94621 26 [email protected]

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SERVICE LIST

District Attorney of Alpine County District Attorney of Kings County P.O. Box 248 1400 West Lacey Blvd. Markleeville, CA 96120 Hanford, CA 93230

District Attorney of Amador County District Attorney of Lake County 708 Court Street, Ste. 202 255 N. Forbes Street Jackson, CA 95642 Lakeport, CA 95453

District Attorney of Butte County District Attorney of Los Angeles County Administration Building Hall of Justice 25 County Center Drive 211 W. Temple Street, Ste. 1200 Oroville, CA 95965 Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210

District Attorney of Calaveras County District Attorney of Madera County 891 Mountain Ranch Road 209 West Yosemite Avenue San Andreas, CA 95249 Madera, CA 93637

District Attorney of Colusa County District Attorney of Marin County 346 Fifth Street, Suite 101 3501 Civic Center Drive, Rm. 130 Colusa, CA 95932 San Rafael, CA 94903

District Attorney of Del Norte County District Attorney of Mariposa County 450 H Street, Ste. 171 P.O. Box 730 Crescent City, CA 95531 Mariposa, CA 95338

District Attorney of El Dorado County District Attorney of Mendocino County 778 Pacific Street P.O. Box 1000 Placerville, CA 95667 Ukiah, CA 95482

District Attorney of Fresno County District Attorney of Merced County 2220 Tulare Street, Ste. 1000 2222 "M" Street Fresno, CA 93721 Merced, CA 95340

District Attorney of Glenn County District Attorney of Modoc County P.O. Box 430 204 S. Court Street, Rm. 202 Willows, CA 95988 Alturas, CA 96101-4020

District Attorney of Humboldt County District Attorney of Mono County 825 5th Street P.O. Box 617 Eureka, CA 95501 Bridgeport, CA 93546

District Attorney of Imperial County District Attorney of Nevada County 939 Main Street, Ste. 102 201 Commercial Street El Centro, CA 92243 Nevada City, CA 95959

District Attorney of Inyo County District Attorney of Orange County P.O. Drawer D 401 Civic Center Drive West Independence, CA 93526 Santa Ana, CA 92701

District Attorney of Kern County District Attorney of Placer County 1215 Truxtun Avenue 10810 Justice Center Drive, Ste. 240 Bakersfield, CA 93301 Roseville, CA 95678

District Attorney of Plumas County District Attorney of Yuba County 520 Main Street, Rm. 404 215 Fifth Street Quincy, CA 95971 Marysville, CA 95901

District Attorney of San Benito County Los Angeles City Attorney's Office 419 Fourth Street, 2nd Fl. City Hall East Hollister, CA 95023 200 N. Main Street, Rm. 800 Los Angeles, CA 90012 District Attorney of San Bernardino County 316 N. Mountain View Avenue San Francisco City Attorney’s Office San Bernardino, CA 92415 City Hall, Room 234 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place District Attorney of San Diego County San Francisco, CA 94102 330 West Broadway, Ste. 1300 San Diego, CA 92101 San Jose City Attorney's Office 200 East Santa Clara Street District Attorney of San Mateo County San Jose, CA 95113 400 County Center, 3rd Fl. Redwood City, CA 94063 California Attorney General's Office Attention: Proposition 65 Coordinator and Robert District Attorney of Shasta County Thomas 1355 West Street 1515 Clay Street, Ste. 2000 Redding, CA 96001 P.O. Box 70550 Oakland, CA 94612-0550 District Attorney of Sierra County Courthouse Fred Ross, CEO* 100 Courthouse Sq., 2nd Fl. Allied Old English, Inc. Downieville, CA 95936 100 Markley Street Port Reading, NJ 07064 District Attorney of Siskiyou County P.O. Box 986 Manager* Yreka, CA 96097 Barkman Honey, LLC 120 Santa Fe Street District Attorney of Solano County Hillsboro, KS 67063 675 Texas Street, Ste. 4500 Fairfield, CA 94533 Yoshiyuki Ishigaki, CEO* JFC International, Inc. District Attorney of Stanislaus County 7101 E. Slauson Avenue 832 12th Street, Ste. 300 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Modesto, CA 95354District Attorney of Sutter County Lance Chambers, CEO* 446 Second Street Natural American Foods, Inc. Yuba City, CA 95991 10464 Bryan Highway Onsted, MI 49265 District Attorney of Tehama County P.O. Box 519 President* Red Bluff, CA 96080 Paper House, Inc. 905 G Street District Attorney of Trinity County Hampton, VA 23661 P.O. Box 310 11 Court Street Manager* Weaverville, CA 96093 Food Service Direct Logistics, LLC 905 G Street District Attorney of Tuolumne County Hampton, VA 23661 423 N. Washington Street Sonora, CA 95370

Food Service Direct Logistics, LLC* c/o The Corporation Trust Company Corporation Trust Center 1209 Orange Street Wilmington, DE 19801

Nicole Pesco, CEO* Save Mart Supermarkets 1800 Standiford Avenue Modesto, CA 95350

Nicole Pesco, CEO* Save Mart Supermarkets P.O. Box 4278 Modesto, CA 95352

David G. Hirz, CEO* Smart & Final Stores LLC 600 Citadel Drive Commerce, CA 90040

David G. Hirz, CEO* Amerifoods Trading Company LLC 600 Citadel Drive Commerce, CA 90040

Ronald Friedman, CEO* Total Sweeteners, Inc. 1700 Higgins Road, Ste 300 Des Plaines, IL 60018

President* Whole Foods Market California, Inc. 5980 Horton Street, Ste. 200 Emeryville, CA 94608

President* Whole Foods Market California, Inc. 550 Bowie Street Austin, TX 78703

President* Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Food Markets, Inc. 207 Goode Avenue, 7th Floor Glendale, CA 91203

Nigel Willerton, President* Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. 14141 Southwest Fwy, Ste. 160 Sugar Land, TX 77478

Nigel Willerton, President* Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. One Sugar Creek Center, Ste. 500 Sugar Land, TX 77478