I just got one of those new Fiskar rotating cutting boards for 50% off at Joann's today. I was delighted with my purchase until I got home and read the package.

There is a warning: "This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm.

What does California know that the rest of us don't know. Now I'm not sure if I want this or if I should take it back. Is that warning on all cutting boards?

WOW!!! I wonder if this is just on Fiskar's, or all of them?
Quilting should NOT be hazardous to our health :(

unless you are planning to eat it, i wouldn't worry. ;-)

Quilting might be hazardous to our marriage, but it shouldn't be hazardous to our health!

I was wondering if this warning is on there only if the mat gets hot? Many plastics release nasty chemicals when heated...

Is there anything anywhere anymore that doesn't cause cancer?

I would not worry about that, remember your hair dryer came with a sticker saying not to use it in the tub. If you are smart enough to read the woarning you are usually too smart to eat the plastic bag it came in.

I would not worry too much about it... I use to work in a hobby shop that came with a lot of the same warnings ... a slot car set, trains sets. Sometimes I think they get too carried away , Just my opinion

I think they're overly cautious with the warning labels. I saw one on a baby stroller that said "unfold stroller before inserting baby".

I wouldn't worry about that at all. California is known for their ultra strict rules when it comes to labeling consumer goods. That warning appears on virtually everything sold in CA.

:XD: :XD: :XD:

:thumbup: :lol: :thumbup: :lol:

i often wish they'd stop printing warning labels.

anybody stupid enough to do 99% of the things they warn against deserves whatever they get. :lol:

I just laugh at a lot of packaging I see these days. It seems EVERYTHING causes the state of California to get cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm. I think the packaging is trying to prevent frivolous lawsuits like the one from a lady in CA who wanted to sue because Captain Crunch didn't contain "real" crunchberries. She felt violated because they weren't dried fruit. (Do all the nuts live in this state? Crunchberries aren't a real berry and were always marketed as a cartoon.)

My Husband was in the propane business for 17 years before becoming a Lineman. Tanks in Ca. have a warning about propane may cause cancer in reproductive organs. 2 years into his new job he got testicular cancer. Makes ya wonder :?:

I would use it, have fun, as everything anymore they say cause cancer.

Not ALL of us...just our lawmakers :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm sorry about your husband. Many things happen coincidentally.

A lot of things are incorrectly labeled by companies and agencies who have no understanding of what the chemical or biological agent actually is or does. I have seen people afraid of WATER because it was referred to as "dihydrogen monoxide" and were told that it was dangerous when exposed to an excessive amount (like you'd drown, duh). So a group of clueless people actually demanded it be banned from schools and public buildings. Caused a stir among the more non-sciencey crowd in our area until we convinced them that getting rid of water would make for a real interesting reassessment of fire codes, hygene, cafeteria operations.

I checked propane out to make sure that my databases were accurate. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Material Safety Data Sheets, Chemistry and Physics handbook, Merck Index, and my Toxicology Handbook, propane is not considered a health risk other than flamablilty.

If you are worried about exposure to any specific substance, you can look up the MSDS sheets. Every chemical has to have a MSDS and most businesses, schools, etc. are supposed to keep these on the premises. We were even required to keep them for the white-out, markers, copier toners, you get the drift.

I was actually thinking of some relatives that live there when I was writing.

I really didn't mean ALL Californians are nuts because, hey, you'd be missing one...I live in Texas. :-)

If you are really concerned contact Fiskars...

I'm with PatriceJ. I lived in CA for 55 years, and they can be so over the top sometimes.

My Husband was in the propane business for 17 years before becoming a Lineman. Tanks in Ca. have a warning about propane may cause cancer in reproductive organs. 2 years into his new job he got testicular cancer. Makes ya wonder :?:[/quote]

This might just be a coincidence. One of the men I worked with had testicular cancer and he never even grilled out, camped out or anything else. Our neighbor used a propane refrigerator for 60 or more years before he died and it wasn't from cancer it was because he was 88. I have one of those cutting boards and love it. I don't chew on it, sleep with it or things like that so I think it's pretty safe. :thumbup:

Lab fairy
I hate to say it but there is a reason why cali is know as the land of fruits and nuts. hehe. ( I can say because I lived there for many years and my hubby was born and raised.)

I have seen many things with warnings about CA, I wouldn't worry ether

I doubt there is anything to worry about. Just use it and enjoy it.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I would use it.

I don't know. Maybe I am warped, but some of the packaging is just crazy. Why is toilet paper labeled "long Lasting"? Anyway, Fiskars mats have said this for a long time. I have one of the rotating mats and have had it for many years. I don't think it has done anything to me.

Excuse me, isn't that a third eye I saw in your last photo?

Could be?????

(*First post: Hi everyone!)

I contacted Fiskars when I bought a cutting mat because I didn't see the label until I was home and was concerned about it. I also thought to return it but decided to contact Fiskars first for more information since I'd have to travel out of town to return it. I received the following reply:

"Thank you for contacting Fiskars. Actually, Fiskars products pose no health risk at all. The label that you see was only a precautionary statement that we put on our products while we did some product testing in response to California Proposition 65. We have since completed our testing and we know for sure that our products are safe don't contain any materials listed on the Prop 65 list. So, actually, the warning is unnecessary and has been removed from our packaging since October 2007. It sometimes takes awhile for inventory to cycle through warehouses and distributors.

Our products do not and never have posed any health risk at all. For more information, please visit the following links
* CA Proposition 65 Website: http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance. Thank you for contacting Fiskars "

I kept the mat and it has been working very well for me and I love the colors (green and yellow). Hope this helps!

I think maybe it is refering to if you ingest it, as with asbestos.
Was it Queen Victoria who said after she had ridden on a steam train going 30 miles per hour, that traveling at that speed "was not good for the health" !!

Gal

From what I know, California tends to have higher consumer protection standards than many other states.

Have you ever seen the warning labels on the Christmas lights? Do not handle without gloves. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Blah blah blah. Can't even put up Christmas lights or cut fabric without being scared???? Yikes!

Hello from California! We have warnings for anything and everything. Someone sues over something silly and we get new label warnings. Enjoy your mat.

This reminds me of when I was planning my daughter's birthday party last year. We were doing Dora the Explorer at the beach theme. I was placing the order from Oriental Trading. I picked some beachballs and when I clicked on them, I got a message that told me they were not available. I tried it on several beachballs, none were avaiable. I finally called them and askd them why. The guy asked me where I lived and told him CA. He then told me that the balls were not available in CA. because of the plastic and chemical percent.

I think it has something to do with the fumes, but if you use it in a well ventilated room everything should be fine. If it bothers you call or e-mail the company and find out specifics.

Talk about silly packaging. I bought a doll bed for my granddaughter. On the outside of the box it showed a little girl playing with her doll. The package said.....warning child not included with doll bed. I couldn't believe it. I had to show it to someone else so they wouldn't think I was dreaming. I do know that the mats can have a pretty bad smell when you first get them. I always leave mine outside in the garage for a day or two and that seems to help.

According to something I heard on TV this weekend broccoli and brussel sprouts kill cancer so eat those and not the cutting board. Ha!

That sounds like a good solution, I'll take that advice.