Lead Found in Reusable Grocery Bags

In a recent investigation, The Tampa Tribune recently found lead in the reusable bags sold at Winn-Dixie, Publix, Sweetbay, Walmart, and Target. The reusable bags were devised to stifle over-consumption of both plastic bags and paper bags in an attempt to make shopping more eco-friendly. Ironically enough, the lead concentrations present in the bags pose a much greater risk to the environment then plastic bags seeing as though lead doesn’t break down in nature. However, that is probably secondary to risk it could pose to most humans. The main worry is that the lead in these reusable bags will leach into food they hold—making consumption of the toxin inevitable.

Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, is now calling for the federal government to get involved to explore these claims made by The Tampa Tribune in further depth.

In a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, Schumer states, “Any situation where lead bags are coming into contact with the food being purchased by Americans needs to be immediately investigated and resolved."

On the flip side, a few of the retail stores in question have vowed to get to the bottom of this and will monitor shipments from their suppliers more closely.

According to grocery specialist Jack Horst, 10% to 15% of the market is made up of reusable bags, which could lead to other problems—namely the possibility of E. coli contamination.

The consensus is that while reusable grocery bags do cut down on the over-consumption of plastic bags—an environmentally friendly action—the lead concentrations in the reusable bags make it both an environmental issue as well as a health concern. My advice would be to hold off on using or purchasing reusable bags until all the facts are in.