Wegmans supermarket chain will stop selling 2 types of reusable bags over lead concerns
By APFriday, September 10, 2010
Wegmans pulls reusable bags over lead concerns
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Wegmans supermarket chain says it has stopped selling two types of reusable shopping bags after sample testing showed some might have elevated levels of lead.
The company said Friday the “green pea” and “holiday 2009″ designs are safe for customers to continue using and the main concern is properly disposing of them.
Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans isn’t recalling the bags, but the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that customers should return them for replacement at store service desks when they’re no longer useful.
The chain has 76 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland.
Judy Braiman of Rochesterians Against the Misuse of Pesticides tells The Associated Press testing by her group found the green tint on the Chinese-made plastic bags had elevated levels of lead.
(This version CORRECTS that testing was conducted by Rochesterians Against the Misuse of Pesticides, instead of the Empire State Consumer Project.)
