San Luis Obispo.com: Thousands of canvas lunch bags distributed by state recalled after some test positive for lead
Filed under: Earth 911 - September 20, 2007
September 20, 2007
California’s top health official issued a warning Thursday to stop using canvas lunch bags issued by the state Department of Public Health because testing found three lunch boxes had elevated lead levels.
About 56,000 of the canvas lunch boxes that say “EAT FRUITS & VEGETABLES AND BE ACTIVE” have been distributed throughout the state as nutrition education items at health fairs and other events, officials said.
No known cases of lead poisoning have resulted from use of the lunch boxes.
The state health department will no longer use the lunch boxes until it knows every one is safe, said state Health Officer Mark Horton.
“In addition to lunch boxes, we are assessing all of our health promotion items to ensure that they are safe,” Horton said. “We are urging Californians to not use these lunch boxes and keep them away from infants and young children.”
The lunch boxes that tested positive for lead were obtained through a manufacturer, TA Creations, which has factories in Canton, China.
People who have these lunch boxes should return them to where they got them or take them to a local household hazardous waste collection facility for disposal. Such facilities can be found at one of the following Web sites: www.earth911.com, www.ciwmb.ca.gov.
-Sarah Arnquist