A woman in Baltimore, Maryland, said she was caught off guard after noticing a cancer warning attached to a clothing listing she had been browsing online. The discovery came as she searched for a black pantsuit and landed on a two-piece set sold on FashionNova’s website for $39.99.
While scrolling through the product page, she said nothing initially raised concerns for her until she reached the bottom of the details section, where a notice referencing California Proposition 65 appeared. Because the label warned of “Cancer and Reproductive Harm,” the woman assumed it indicated a direct safety risk, and even after researching to understand what it meant, she still came back with the same conclusion.
Now California Proposition 65 requires businesses to inform consumers in the state about potential exposure to chemicals that could contribute to cancer or reproductive harm. The warnings do not necessarily mean a product is unsafe, but rather that it may contain trace amounts of substances that fall under the state’s disclosure rules.
According to UPMC HealthBeat, the law is primarily about a consumer’s right to know. As a result, the label can appear on a wide range of everyday items, from clothing and furniture to electronics, even when the risk level is considered minimal under normal use conditions.
The pantsuit’s material was listed as 95% polyester and 5% spandex, with contrast fabric made up of 88% polyester and 12% spandex. This could likely be the culprit that set off the warnings as these synthetic fabrics can contain chemicals like bisphenol A which is listed in Prop 65.
Netizens’ Reactions to the Maryland Woman’s Video
After sharing her discovery on TikTok, some netizens in her comments were outraged, with one stating, “Can’t eat nothing… Can’t wear nothing.” Another urged others to “stop buying polyester clothing,” while a different commenter claimed they were “throwing away everything from Fashion Nova.”
However, many people didn’t seem shocked in the slightest. “That’s on just about every product we buy,” one person commented. Someone else said, “Everything has that tag. Even my iron.” A third added, “It’s not just FashionNova! That warning is on ALL kinds of items! Even furniture from reputable stores. Going back at least 10 years!”
There were also people who were “glad they are advertising warnings,” and not trying to hide it. One netizen even wrote, “I need to start looking at those details.”
