California Bed Bath & Beyond Stores Pull Contaminated Tissue Boxes

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California health officials are advising people who bought specialty metal tissue boxes from retail chain Bed Bath & Beyond to return the items because they're contaminated with low levels of radioactive material.

The California Department of Public Health said Friday the boxes called "Dual Ridge Metal Boutique tissue boxes" with the model number DR9M, contain radioactive cobalt-60.

California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Frank Parrish says the radioactive material was discovered on Jan. 5 when radiation alarms were triggered during a check of a truck at an inspection station.

After the discovery, the CHP notified the California Department of Health Services.

The department said Friday as part of a voluntary nationwide recall, the boxes have been pulled from shelves in all of the 21 California stores where Bed, Bath & Beyond sold the product.

Health officials say the material contained in the tissue boxes poses no immediate health threat.