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Demand That Publix Only Sell Lead-Free Reusable Shopping Bags
  1. Signatures
    235 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. CEO Publix Supermarkets (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • CEO Publix Supermarkets (Ed Crenshaw)
      • Director of Media & Community Relations for Publix (Maria Brous)
  2. Created By
    Daniel Jensen
    Los Angeles, CA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation into concerning levels of lead found in reusable grocery bags sold at two grocery store chains, Winn-Dixie and Publix. And while Winn-Dixie has taken steps to address health concerns, Publix insists on continuing to sell the bags.

The reusable bags in question made headlines when the Tampa Tribune tested more than a dozen totes from the two East Coast supermarket chains and found concerning levels of lead in many of them. After disposal, lead could pollute groundwater. The heavy metal is also a dangerous neurotoxin and carcinogen. Bags with elaborate illustrations were found to have the highest amount of lead, particularly those with yellow and green colors. And all of those with high-levels of lead were manufactured in China.

While Winn-Dixie has agreed to stop selling the reusable bags in question, Publix insists that its bags comply with current federal laws. The store is merely offering a refund to those customers who purchased the lead-laden bags.

Publix continues to sell the hazardous bags and has only asked the chain's bag suppliers to lower the lead content in their bags. But a lower level of lead is still too much lead when it comes to our health and that of the environment.

Tell Publix to remove the lead-containing bags from its shelves and commit to only selling lead-free reusable bags.

 

Photo credit: Josh Hallett

Recent Signatures

Ban Lead-Laden Bags and Only Sell Lead-Free Reusable Bags

Dear Mr. Crenshaw,

As I'm sure you are aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation into concerning levels of lead found in reusable grocery bags sold at two grocery store chains, Winn-Dixie and, your store, Publix. And while Winn-Dixie has taken steps to address health concerns, Publix insists on continuing to sell the hazardous bags.

You may have asked your bag suppliers to lower the lead content of their bags, but a lower level of lead is still too much lead when it comes to our health and that of the environment. Lead is considered a neurotoxin, a carcinogen, and can cause learning disabilities in children and fertility problems in adults. It can also leach out of the bags and poison groundwater. It should have no place in our shopping bags.

Publix customers should not have to wait for the FDA to confirm the dangers that previous tests have already indicated. We implore you to remove the bags in question from your shelves and commit to selling only lead-free reusable bags for everyone's safety.

[Your name]

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