One of the country's largest supermarket chains is pulling from its shelves bottled water manufactured at a plant outside East Palestine, Ohio, out of "an abundance of caution" in the wake of a train derailment and chemical spill in the town.
Giant Eagle, which has more than 410 stores in states across the Midwest and East Coast, said it would pull its gallon-size and larger water bottles manufactured in a plant in Salineville, Ohio, 25 miles southwest of East Palestine, the Akron Beacon Journal reported Tuesday. The chain said testing had not indicated any issues with the water from the plant, whose source of water is just outside East Palestine.
Giant Eagle said it would pull the products and offer refunds "while we continue to evaluate ongoing testing and potential impacts to the spring source."
The grocery chain's move comes as residents of East Palestine have complained of health ailments following the Feb. 3 derailment of a train carrying the toxic chemical vinyl chloride. The Environmental Protection Agency has said testing shows the air and municipal water in East Palestine are safe.
The disaster has raised scrutiny on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has taken criticism from residents and the mayor of East Palestine. Buttigieg on Monday said he would visit the town "when the time is right."