Residex’s Blog

Eco-conscious New Yorkers were shocked to learn Sunday that reusable grocery bags could contain health-hazardous lead.

Politicians sounded the alarm about the bags Sunday after an Empire State Consumer Project report found high levels of lead in reusable bags at East Coast grocery chain Wegmans.

While no local supermarkets were identified as culprits, a manager at Fairway’s flagship upper West Side store pledged the chain will ask the importer about the content of its reusable bags.

“If there’s lead in our bags, we’ll pull them off the shelf,” said floor manager Juan Larios.

The chain charges $1 for the bags, which are made in China. Bags with high levels of lead are often made in China of non woven polypropylene or are decorated with lead-laden paint.

“I think it’s just another example of the economy driving decisions that should be made for the welfare of Americans,” said Sharon Cadiz, 58, of Long Island City, Queens, who used reusable bags to tote groceries from her neighborhood’s Stop & Shop.

The supermarket chain reimburses shoppers 5 cents for each reusable bag they bring. It sells its bags, made in China of non woven polypropylene, for 99 cents apiece.

“We’ve tested our reusable bags, and all are far below the allowable content for heavy metals, including lead,” a Stop & Shop spokeswoman said.

“China has no regard for American safety,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters yesterday. He called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate reusable bag manufacturers and ban bags with unacceptable levels of lead

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/11/15/2010-11-15_reusable_grocery_bags_made_in_china_found_to_contain_lead_fueling_calls_for_fda_.html#ixzz15SBdvm32