Attorney General Jerry Brown filed lawsuits in 2005 against H.J. Heinz, Frito-Lay, Lance Inc and Kettle Foods, together with Procter & Gamble PG.N and four fast-food chains: McDonald's, KFC, Burger King and Wendy's for selling food containing high levels of acrylamide, a chemical compound that is produced when foods, particularly potatoes, are cooked at high temperatures.

According to Brown’s statement, the corporations have reached an agreement to decrease the levels of the chemical that causes cancer and is found in their product.

In 2007, the chains consented to post acrylamide warnings at their eateries and to pay civil penalties and costs. At the beginning of this year, Procter & Gamble agreed to cut the level of the cancer-causing chemical in Pringles potato chips by 50 percent so that no warning would be needed, Reuters reported.

"The companies agreed to reduce this carcinogenic chemical in fried potatoes - a victory for public health and safety in California," Brown stated. "Other companies should follow this lead and take steps to reduce acrylamide in French fries and potato chips."

The corporations were sued under Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, which force companies to post warnings of any cancer-causing chemicals in their items for consumption.

As stated by Jerry Brown, Kettle Foods Inc, producer of Kettle Chips, will reduce the quantities of acrylamide by no less than 87 percent. Also, the business will pay $350,000 in penalties and costs.
Frito-Lay will have to pay $1.5 million in penalties and costs. It will pay $550,000 less if it would reduce the chemical in its products in half the time established by the settlement. But it will pay an extra $2 million if it doesn’t manage to diminish the levels of acrylamide in the required time.