Health warning about reusable shopping bags

reusable shopping bag (source/photobucket)

In an effort to help the environment, many people have dumped plastic bags and carry around a reusable cloth bag for holding their purchases. This is great for the environment, however, forgetting to wash the bag is not great for your health. 

Researchers  from the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University  tested 84 bags and found that over half were contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria. Coliform bacteria, suggesting raw-meat or uncooked-food contamination, was in half of the bags, and E. coli was found in 12 percent of the bags.

The Atlanta based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that every year at least 2000 Americans are hospitalized, and about 60 die as a direct result of E. coli infection and its complications.

Machine and hand washing the bags reduced bacteria levels to almost nothing, the study found. But most of the shoppers in the study said they do not regularly, if ever, wash their reusable bags. 

Stores in Atlanta and nationwide have started programs that encourage shoppers to bring in their own bags. In a recent effort to cut down on the use of plastic CVS and Target stores have offered discounts to shoppers who bring their own reusable bag.  

Here are some tips to keep your reusable bags safe:

• Buy bags you can wash: polypropolene, cloth or canvas. Wash them once a week or so.

• Have more than one bag and label on the outside a designation for meat, vegetables or boxed/canned/packaged goods.

• Double-wrap meats at the store and never place it in bags with ready-to-eat food.

• Bring foods home immediately and store them right away. Then wash your hands.

• Wash vegetables thoroughly before eating or preparing.

• Cook foods thoroughly, especially meat.

• Clean and disinfect counters and other surfaces before, during and after preparing food.