California Recalls 350,000 Lunch Boxes, Possible Lead Contamination

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Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 21 Sep 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) yesterday urged consumers to stop using certain lunch boxes that have been distributed at health fairs and other events after three lunch boxes tested positive for elevated levels of lead.

The lunchboxes that tested positive were bought from TA Creations, a company with factories in China.

The lunch boxes that were found to be contaminated were made of green canvas, with a black shoulder strap, and bear the logo "EAT FRUITS & VEGETABLES AND BE ACTIVE". About 56,000 of them have been distributed throughout California at health fairs and related events.

The CDPH is also testing other lunch boxes it has been distributing for potential contamination with lead. These lunch boxes were used to promote: Network for a Healthy California Program and the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Around 300,000 of them have been distributed.

Director of the CDPH, Dr Mark Horton urged people not use any of the lunch boxes and especially to keep them away from infants and young children.

"CDPH will no longer use lunch boxes until such time as we are assured that every lunch box is safe," he added.

Horton said the CDPH was also assessing the safety of all its health promotion items.

Anyone who has these lunch boxes should take them back to where they got them, or if they can't do that, then take them down to their local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection point for disposal.

The CDPH knows of no cases of lead poisoning happening as a result of the lunch boxes.

This recall comes in the wake of a raft of product recalls due to suspected lead contamination. Many of these products were made in China and many include children's goods, including toys.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued nearly 30 product recalls children's toys so far this year, including: Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway Toys, Sarge die cast toy cars, Sesame street toys, various Barbie accessories, Big Big World 6 in 1 Bongo Band Toys, and many others.

Other products the CDC has recalled due to suspected lead contamination include furniture, children's jewellery, various craft items, office supplies and foodware.

Children are more vulnerable to lead than adults, and it can affect their mental and physical development.

The CDC estimates that nearly 1 million US children under 5 have high levels of lead in their blood.

One of the biggest hazards is house paint, especially in old houses.

Many children do not show physical symptoms of lead poisoning because they can be subtle and build up gradually. Symptoms of lead poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, anemia, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, constipation, irritability, fatigue, constipation, difficulty sleeping, headaches and coma. It can be fatal.

Click here for CDPH announcement and photos of the lunchboxes, plus website addresses for HHW disposal sites.

Click here for further information on childhood lead poisoning (CDPH).

Written by: Catharine Paddock
Copyright: Medical News Today
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