Supermarket Chain Pulls Reusable Bags Over Lead
HUNTINGTON STATION, NY (WCBS 880) - There will be no more reusable shopping bags at the Long Island-based King Kullen supermarket chain.
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WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reports
The supermarket chain pulled them from their shelves over concerns of potentially dangerous levels of lead.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) is praising the food industry, saying "I think the supermarket industry are realizing this is a problem now and trying to take action themselves. But because so many of these bags are imported, I think the FDA has to step up to the plate.
Shoppers at the King Kullen in Huntington Station are paying attention.
"I have ten of them in my trunk," one said.
WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs asked her if she was using them, to which she said: "Not anymore."
Over the weekend, Schumer sought a federal investigation following a newspaper report of lead content in some reusable grocery bags.
RELATED STORY: Schumer Wants FDA Probe of Lead in Reusable Bags
The Democrat said that many of the reusable grocery bags sold nationwide are manufactured in China. Schumer says he's contacting the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
There is less concern 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.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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