Lunch boxes from health department may contain lead

Five lunch boxes distributed at a minority health fair on Aug. 18, 2007, may contain lead, local health department officials said.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department is asking that recipients of the lunch boxes stop using them immediately and return them to the health department at 921 East 3rd St.

The lunch boxes were given away as incentives during the walking session at the Minority Health Fair at the Eastgate Town Center. The boxes voluntarily have been recalled by their maker, Produce for Better Health Foundation, because some may contain lead in the lining. The recalled lunch boxes were distributed in blue, green and red.

Long-term, repeated exposure to lead can have adverse health effects, particularly for small children, local health officials said.

See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for complete coverage.