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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2006
CONTACT: Charles Margulis, 510-697-0615 (cell); Michael Green
or Alexa Engelman, 510-594-9864; 510-378-7333 (Michael Green
cell)
FDA URGES PRODUCERS TO STOP MAKING LEAD-TAINTED VINYL LUNCHBOXES
Agency warns manufacturers that vinyl lunchboxes may leach
lead into food, posing health risks to children
Oakland, CA – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
notified makers of soft vinyl (PVC) lunchboxes yesterday that
they should stop marketing vinyl lunchboxes that may leach
lead into foods. FDA’s letter to manufacturers states
that any lead on the surface of a lunchbox lining can be expected
to contaminate food and would therefore be a prohibited food
additive. Last year, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH)
brought national attention to the issue of lead-tainted children’s
lunchboxes when the nonprofit sued makers and retailers of
vinyl lunchboxes for violating California law.
FDA’s notice is the first federal action to stop the
sale of lead-tainted lunchboxes. “We applaud FDA for
taking this decisive action to protect children’s health,”
said Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH. “It is
past time for strong government action to insure our kids
are safe from lead at lunchtime.” An email from FDA Consumer
Safety Officer Kenneth McAdams to CEH investigative staff
stated, “[T]hank you and CEH again for your work on this
that first alerted us to the issue, and the help you provided
us.”
FDA’s letter to lunchbox makers states that the agency’s
position is based on lunchbox testing performed by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC). But CPSC has refused to
take action to prevent lead poisoning risks from lunchboxes,
and stated after conducting “preliminary” tests
that lead from lunchboxes would not pose health risks. In
contrast, FDA’s notice clearly warns lunchbox makers
of lead-poisoning risks, stating that since…some migration
of lead [from lunchbox interiors] to food…may be reasonably
expected, we urge companies to refrain from marketing such
lead-containing lunchboxes....it has been a longstanding objective
of the FDA to reduce, to the extent possible, consumer exposure
to lead from foods. The adverse health effects of elevated
lead levels in children are well-documented and may have long-lasting
or permanent consequences.
Recently, many lunchboxes found in stores by CEH include
labels suggesting that the products are “lead safe,”
or “lead free.” But there is often no explanation
of what testing companies did to determine the amount or availability
of lead from the lunchbox. For example, CEH purchased Thermos-brand
lunchboxes at Target labeled “Tested Lead Safe.”
When CEH called Thermos for information, a company representative
could not describe the testing method, and instead referred
CEH to a June 1 company press release stating that CPSC has
found that lead in lunchboxes “would not present a health
hazard to children.” Another lunchbox purchased at Wal-Mart
is labeled as “Tested Lead Safe,” and contains a
tag stating that “Representative samples of this product
have been tested for lead according to the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission…and found to comply with their guidelines.”
In response, CEH has issued a renewed caution:
“Parents should take notice that a “lead safe”
label on a lunchbox may not provide adequate assurance, if
companies are using CPSC’s outdated standard,”
said Green. “We urge retailers to be vigilant in informing
suppliers that lunchboxes are not safe if they contain any
lead that can contaminate food.”
A CEH investigation begun in 2005 has found lead in dozens
of children’s lunchboxes bought at major retailers, including
Target, WalMart, JC Penny’s, Toys “R” Us and
Walgreens. But the retailers were slow to respond, and CEH’s
announcement of lead in lunchboxes prompted hundreds of parents
from across the country to mail lead-positive lunchboxes purchased
at these and other stores to CEH headquarters in Oakland,
California. Lunchboxes featuring Superman, Tweety Bird, Powerpuff
Girls, and other familiar characters were found with high
lead levels.
For more information about CEH’s investigation, including
photos of lunchboxes and of “lead safe” notices
on lunchboxes, see www.cehca.org/lunchboxes.htm
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