Citizens are urged to throw out lead-containing lunch boxes
Last week the director of the California Department of Public
Health announced that promotional canvas lunch boxes that had been
given out with a logo that says
”
Eat Fruits and Vegetables and Be Active,
”
tested positive for elevated levels of lead.
Citizens are urged to throw out lead-containing lunch boxes
Last week the director of the California Department of Public Health announced that promotional canvas lunch boxes that had been given out with a logo that says “Eat Fruits and Vegetables and Be Active,” tested positive for elevated levels of lead.
Nearly 56,000 of the canvas lunch boxes, which come with Spanish or English writing, and are green, were given out at health fairs and other events throughout the state.
“CDPH will no longer use lunch boxes until such time as we are assured that every lunch box is safe. In addition to lunch boxes, we are assessing all of our promotion items to ensure that they are safe,” said Mark Horton, the director of CDPH. “We are urging Californians to not use these lunch boxes and keep them away from infants and young children.”
No cases of lead poisoning have been linked to the lunch boxes. The items were manufactured through TA Creations, which has factories in Canton, China.
While blue lunch boxes that were used with the Network for a Healthy California Program and the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children, have not tested positive, the department is urging consumers to stop using those boxes as well.
To dispose of the boxes, consumers should take them to the San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services at 439 Fourth St, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The boxes can also be taken to the household hazardous waste collection held once a month at John Smith Landfill.
For more information on the lunch boxes or lead poisoning, call the Public Health Division at 637-5367.
