The polypropylene bags, sold by chains including Safeway, Walgreen's and Bloom, all contained lead content above 100 parts per million ?" the highest level that many states allow in consumer packaging.

Frontier Global Sciences for the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) conducted the tests on 71 bags and inserts from 44 retailers and organizations. Often it was the bags' inserts that contained the high lead levels.

The Safeway bag inserts had the highest level of lead ?" 672 ppm ?" behind only CVS bags, which were recalled in November. Earlier this month, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) found lead levels 15 times the federal limit for children's products in Safeway reusable bags.

As a result of the recent findings, Safeway said it was pulling the O by Organics reusable bags from sale until it receives more information from the bag manufacturer.

Bloom said it stopped offering its contaminated bags in November and would refund anyone concerned about the bag. Walgreen's said it now tests for lead and other toxins and that all of its current bags are safe.

Other retailers and organizations whose bags or bag inserts exceeded levels of 100 ppm include: Giant; Giant Eagle; KTA Super Stores; Staples; Piggly Wiggly; Brookshire Brothers; Gerbes; Stater Bros.; University of Oregon; the Defense Commissary Agency; Washington, D.C., Department of the Environment; and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.