California Department of Public Health Advises
Consumers not to use CDPH Lunch Boxes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
CONTACT: JESSICA KERN
PHONE: 530-233-6311
Lunch boxes used as nutrition education items have elevated levels
of lead
SACRAMENTO – Dr. Mark Horton, Director of
the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today urged consumers to stop using lunch boxes, which have been distributed
as CDPH nutrition educational items, after testing showed elevated levels of lead in three lunch boxes.
The canvas lunch boxes that showed elevated levels
of lead were green with a logo reading EAT FRUITS & VEGETABLES AND BE ACTIVE. Approximately 56,000 of these lunch boxes
have been distributed throughout California at health fairs and other events.
“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 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.”
In addition to the lunch boxes that tested positive
for lead, CDPH has used other lunch boxes as nutrition education items for the Network of a Healthy California Program and
the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Although these lunch boxes have not shown elevated
levels of lead, CDPH recommends consumers stop using and dispose of any CDPH lunch boxes and keep them away from young children
as a precaution.
No known cases of lead poisoning have resulted
from use of the lunch boxes.
Lead can damage the brain, nerves, red blood cells,
and kidneys. Children can ingest lead by chewing and sucking on things with lead. The only way to know if your child has lead
poisoning is for your child to get a blood test. Most children with lead poisoning don’t look or act sick. To protect
your child from lead poisoning always wash your child’s hands before eating and sleeping. Feed your child healthy meals
and snacks. Foods rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin C make it harder for lead to hurt your child.
