Lunch-Boxes Passed Out by the Ca. Dept. Of Health-Recalled!

Some people may have been ecstatic when they received a free lunch-box from the California Department of Public Health but they may have received more than they bargained for. In a recall issued by the C.D.P.H. consumers were warned that the brightly colored lunch boxes might endanger their health. The bags were found to contain a high level of lead.

The C.D.P.H. lunch-boxes tested positive for lead contamination and were obtained through a manufacturer in Canton, China. The company is known as TA Creations.

The canvas lunch-boxes are green with a logo reading "EAT Fruits and Vegetables and Be Active", emblazoned on the front. Approximately 56,000 of the green boxes have been passed out throughout California at health fairs and other events.

The C.D.P.H. have also issued warnings for other lunch boxes that had been given out for nutritional education for the Network for a Healthy California Program and for the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Though these lunch boxes did not show a higher than normal lead content the C.D.P.H. recommends that consumers stop using the boxes immediately and return them to any hazardous waste disposal center or returned to the local health department. Consumers are also advised to keep the packs away from young children and infants as a precaution. Approximately 300,000 of these boxes have also been distributed.

The Orange County Health Care Agency passed out more than 1,000 of the bags at grocery stores, swap meets, schools and other sites.

The first sign of trouble came when The Sacramento County Health Department first discovered high concentrations of lead in the bags in July. Further testing showed that three of the bags tested higher than normally accepted in the outer canvas covering, the vinyl lining and the painted logo. Some blue lunch bags that were also distributed by the health department is still being tested.

Chinese manufacturers have been blamed in recent months for high levels of toxins in paints used on toys, lead found in tooth-pastes and other consumer products.

Lead contamination can lead to many numerous problems in infants, young children and pregnant women. Some of the possible problems caused by high levels of lead are mental retardation, low-IQ scores, lethargy, vomiting and possible death.

There have been no illnesses linked to the contaminated products thus far. Any lunch boxes can be returned to collection sites found at www.ciwmb.ca.gov or www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/universalwaste/HHW.cfm or www.ciwmb.ca.gov .

For more information about lead poisoning go to www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/ .

Sources used for this article are as follows: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/news/Pages/PH07-39.aspx