(Santa Ana) - The Orange County Health Care Agency is advising residents to stop using lunchboxes that have tested positive for elevated levels of lead.  The lunchboxes, which were used as nutrition education tools, were provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to 105 partners throughout the State, including the Orange County Health Care Agency.  The lunchboxes were distributed to consumers through a variety of venues, including retail stores and nutrition clinics. 

While no known cases of lead poisoning have resulted from use of the lunchboxes, CDPH has advised that consumers return them to the place where they got them, or take them to their local household hazardous waste collection center (HHWCC) for disposal.  Orange County residents may return the lunchboxes to the Orange County Health Care Agency in Santa Ana or one of four local HHWCC locations: 

·          Orange County Health Care Agency, Cashier’s Desk – 1725 W. 17^th Street, Santa Ana, 92706  8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

·          Anaheim HHWCC - 1071 N. Blue Gum Street, Anaheim, 92806, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday

·          Huntington Beach HHWCC – 17121 Nichols Street, Huntington Beach, 92647,  9:00 am –    3:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday

·          Irvine HHWCC – 6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, 92618, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday

·          San Juan Capistrano HHWCC – 32250La Pata Avenue, San Juan Capistrano, 92675, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday

The CDPH lunch boxes that tested positive for lead were obtained through a manufacturer, TA Creations, which has factories in Canton, China.  All items are pictured below.

For more information about lead poisoning, consumers are advised to contact the Orange County Health Care Agency at 800-564-8448.  Additional information and a list of local childhood lead prevention programs are available at the CDPH’s web site at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Pages/CLPPBChildrenAtRisk.aspx

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