Probe is sought of lead in reusable grocery bags

[LongTomH]

Source: Tampa Bay Online

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Sen. Charles Schumer of New York is seeking a federal investigation after a newspaper's report of lead content in some reusable grocery bags.

The Democrat told The Associated Press that many of the reusable grocery bags sold nationwide are manufactured in China. Schumer plans to announce Sunday that he is contacting the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

There is less concern that the lead would easily rub off on food when the bags are new, but there is a concern that as bags wear down lead could accumulate in landfills, creating a potential environmental hazard.

Last week, the Tampa Tribune found some bags had lead levels that concerned health officials.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jtdzwGWI5sCxDdvVtAW8Cu2cW6KA?docId=d73e9f66b7014cb4a9f60515e348ca15

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There's another post about this in General Discussion. This article is a recent development on the same issue.

[Poll_Blind]

1. Chinese goods mean lead poisoning. n/t

PB

[Warpy]

4. That's largely because multinational corporations are poisoning China

by dumping their waste with no restrictions. China is losing arable land because of this and having to turn it over to producing non edible crops. Those crops will take up the heavy metals in the soil and that--and dyes--is where the contamination in grocery bags is coming from.

Since most of the food that goes into those bags is packaged, I wouldn't worry too much about contamination.

[Cal Carpenter]

23. 'Chinese goods' that are made for US or other foreign companies

to the specifications of those companies, under the quality control of those companies.

I'm no huge fan of China but it's not like they're forcing this shit on the US - they're just taking advantage of markets like everyone else.. Private, for-profit companies are the ones bringing it here.

[truthisfreedom]

2. All the lead in China...

Seriously, what's up with lead and China?

[Poll_Blind]

5. I wish I knew. That and chromium. Unlike rare earth metals, they've got NO problem exporting lead.

PB

[madrchsod]

7. lead is excellent for adding body to many products.

i`m sure there is an underground trade in lead between manufacturers that want to get rid of lead and those who want to stretch their raw materials.

[harvey007]

25. They want us dead

And they kill or imprison their own citizens who speak out:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007777.html

[Brickbat]

3. Here are the bags I buy. They're made in Minnesota of USA materials and are great for groceries,

the beach, an overnight trip, or just about anything else.

https://www.battlelakeoutdoors.com/shop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=191

I highly, highly recommend this company. They have great backpacks, camping and hunting gear, sports bags, and specialized professional gear as well.

[athena]

16. I'm very pleased with my reusable bags.

I've been using the oldest ones for about a decade now. I throw them in the laundry every now and then. They're much more comfortable to carry than plastic bags, and they hold a lot more.

I bought them from here:
http://www.reusablebags.com
which is now called:
http://www.reuseit.com

I have these:
Recycled Cotton Tote
and these:
Reisenthel Bags
as well two other cotton bags they don't seem to carry any more. They also sell old-fashioned string bags, stuff made in the USA, as well as things like reusable cotton towels to replace paper towels, and biodegradable garbage bags made of recycled plastic.

[Lasher]

6. So we buy reusable grocery bags to protect the environment against discarded plastic.

And end up with with toxic bags. The irony is hard to overlook.

[prolesunited]

20. Not all of them are toxic

I have some made from recycled plastic bottles that were manufactured in the U.S.

[Dappleganger]

8. The Tampa Tribune did an investigation

and found lead in Publix and Winn-Dixie bags.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/nov/11/111830/coming-sunday-does-your-grocery-bag-contain-toxic-/news-metro/

[Liberal Veteran]

9. That's why I never follow plastic bags....

...there is no telling where it will lead.

[Monique1]

10. I might just might use

pillow cases washed in vinegar to cart my groceries but I am sure there is something wrong with that. I am so tired of all this - nothing is safe anymore.

[Monique1]

11. We might need Mon to do an investigation

Remember Monk? Geez, we sanitize our hands and cart handles when entering a store, we sanitize our hands after leaving the store what next? Maybe we should sanitize all can goods and products when we unpack our groceries before placing them in the cupboard or fridge.

I survived almost 69 years without all this sanitization - I am alive and well today.

Just wash your hands frequently. Paper bags - if I remember there was something wrong with paper bags.

[athena]

17. Check out my previous post

There are plenty of cotton bags that don't contain lead. You can find ones made in countries that have high safety standards, such as Germany. They can be washed, and they will literally last decades (assuming you buy a high-quality one). Check out http://www.reuseit.com.

It's really annoying that people will use this news item as a convenient excuse not to use reusable bags. (I am not referring to you necessarily, but clearly this "news" is presented in such a way as to give the reader the impression that all reusable bags potentially contain lead, which is absolutely not the case.)

[Jackpine Radical]

18. That calls for a heavy groan.

You're really plumbing the depths for humor here.

[Pathwalker]

12. I use old bags: an Old Mother Earth bag, 30 yr.s old; A NRDC

tote, 10 yrs. old; a National Home Gardening Club bag, 8 yrs. old; a Sierra Club bag, very old. All washable, all made in America. I also have 2 old cloth insulated, washable bags for cold, frozen foods, made in America. I hope there's no lead in them. My husband quit using those new ones, because I insisted on using Clorox wipes on them, since they're not washable.

[Monique1]

13. So my advice to everyone

stay home and not eat

[rfranklin]

14. Actually, this is another example of the "free market" gone wild...

Regulation is a good thing. Watching the manufacturers and merchants is absolutely necessary because there are psychopaths (usually hiding behind a business degree) who place profit above all. Caveat emptor, baby!

[karynnj]

15. I've never bought their bags - just used the many cotton or canvas bags

that my husband and I were given over the years at various events or conferences. They work just as well - those most are a bit smaller.

[EFerrari]

21. It makes you think twice about throwing things in the cart, too,

if you have to fit everything into the bags you brought with you.

[karynnj]

22. Interesting idea

I've never done that - I just fill the cart and then use the bags. There have been times that they are augmented by the store's bags.

I also intentionally go to one of the stores that still has paper bags about once a month and get them because we use them to put out paper and newspaper respectively for recycling - and that is how my town will pick them up.

[XemaSab]

19. Fuck China.

n/t

[harvey007]

24. Demand Made in the U.S.A.

Take your "made in China" and "made in India" grocery bags back to the store and complain to the manager and demand that they sell reusable grocery bags made in the USA.

I don't care if the foreign-made products were made "sustainably" -- those products represent American jobs shipped overseas.

And before you buy Christmas cards -- look where they were made -- most are made in China.

Support US companies like this that make their products in the U.S.

http://www.leanintree.com/