Consumer Alert: Some 99 Cents Only Glassware Contains Lead

This is a heads-up to people in Southern California who shop at the 99 Cents Only stores, or work with people who might shop there, particularly people who do not read English well.

For years, the 99 Cents Only store has sold some cups and plates that are glazed with, or contain lead. There are stickers on these products indicating that they contain lead, so, it's legal, but, many of their customers lack English literacy skills and aren't aware of what the stickers say.

Letter writing has pressured the store in my area to remove the toxic products from my local store, but I notice that the glassware is still being sold at other stores. If you see lead-tainted product at your store, a letter-writing project can achieve results locally. It won't have an effect system-wide.

It's also important to bring this issue up, particularly to neighbors and co-workers who have immigrant parents who may not read the labels. Odds are, they aren't reading this article, and aren't going to stumble across this information.

Additionally, if you have any glassware, it's important that you don't put orange juice or tomatoes, or any other acidic foods in it before you eat it. The acids can draw the lead out of the glassware. "Leaded crystal" contains lead, and while it's safe to use (because of the way it's been made), leaving acidic foods in it will draw the lead out.

Lead is Dangerous

Lead is toxic to the brain, and makes you lose your intelligence and personality. It's especially toxic to a child's developing brain.

It's so toxic that people who work with it are required to have special ventilation so the fumes aren't inhaled.

This is why everyone uses :"unleaded" gas. Gasoline used to contain lead, because it improved performance, but lead in gasoline has been banned due to the health risks.