AG Bonta today announced a settlement with Pacific American Fish Company, Inc. (PAFCO), a seafood distributor and processor based in Vernon, California, resolving allegations that the company sold frozen seafood products containing elevated levels of lead and/or cadmium into California without the warnings required for exposures to such contaminants, in violation of Proposition 65 and California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL). Under the settlement, PAFCO must implement practices that will minimize the introduction of lead and cadmium during processing, provide legally required warnings, and pay a total of $248,000 in civil penalties, attorneys’ fees, and other costs. The settlement also includes opt-in provisions that will allow similarly situated sellers of fresh or frozen seafood products to seek to join the settlement on similar terms. 

“At a time when putting food on the table can be difficult, no one should have to question whether that food is safe to eat. That’s why California law requires businesses to warn consumers about potential harm from significant exposure to toxic contaminants. We appreciate PAFCO’s cooperation in taking steps designed to minimize the levels of lead and cadmium in its products, in addition to providing required warnings to the public. At the California Department of Justice, we’re all in for consumers and are committed to holding accountable those who fail to warn Californians when they are exposed to toxic contaminants at elevated levels.” – AG Bonta