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Posted: September 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leigh Hall, MD
Deputy Health Officer
707-565-4400
Lunch Box Recall
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services learned on Thursday, September 20, 2007, that canvas lunch boxes provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and distributed locally were found to have elevated levels of lead. Dr. Mark Horton, the director of the California Department of Public Health urges consumers to stop using these lunch boxes.
The lunch boxes have a logo reading, "EAT FRUITS & VEGETABLES AND BE ACTIVE." The Spanish version has a logo and the caption, "COMA FRUTAS Y VEGETALES Y SEA ACTIVO."
The lunch boxes, manufactured by TA Creations, which has factories in Canton, China, were distributed throughout the state at health fairs and other events to promote healthy eating for children. Dr. Leigh Hall, Deputy Health Officer for Sonoma County explained, "The risk of lead exposure from these lunch boxes is minimal, but we want to get the word out to families as quickly as possible to avoid exposure to children and to help with appropriate disposal of the lunch boxes."
Dr. Hall explained that several hundred of these lunch boxes have been handed out in Sonoma County. The lunch boxes were given out through the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services "5-a-Day PowerPlay!" campaign and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
Lead is harmful to children because if they get enough of it in their bodies, it can limit their mental and physical development. It is most harmful to infants and young children. Infants and children can get lead in their bodies by eating or chewing on items that have lead in them. Lead is found in a variety of locations and products, such as old house paint, contaminated soil, certain ceramic bowls and plates, and hobby supplies. The biggest source of lead exposure for children is from old (pre-1978) chipping house paint.
Due to lead contamination, lunch boxes should be disposed of at a household hazardous waste collection facility, or one of the temporary collection sites:
- Students who received the lunch boxes during a "5-a-Day PowerPlay!" may return the boxes to their school site.
- Public Health Building, 625 5th St., rear parking lot off of Humboldt St., Santa Rosa
- WIC Programs:
- 2400 County Center Drive, Santa Rosa
- 11 English Street, Petaluma (Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
- 810 Grove Street, Sonoma (Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
- 16390 Main Street, Guerneville (2nd Friday of the month)
- Sonoma County's central disposal site for household hazardous waste is located at 500 Mecham Road in Petaluma. The facility is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday (7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) for free drop off. A map to the facility may be found in the Recycling Guide section of the Sonoma County phone book, at www.recyclenow.org, or by calling the EcoDesk at 565-3375 for more information.
If parents have concerns about lead exposure in their child, they can discuss the issue with their child's medical provider.
If parents have questions or concerns regarding the lunch boxes, information can be obtained by calling 565-4477.
For general information about child lead poisoning prevention, the public can go to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services website at www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/lead/index.htm. Additional information is also available at www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Pages/CLPPBChildrenAtRisk.aspx
Pictures of the recalled lunch boxes:
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