Posted on 06/25/2010 4:14:27 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Plastic grocery bags are everywhere and more and more people are using the convenient commodity in an effort to be greener and recycle and reuse; however, The Washington Post has issued a reminder to wash the bags after they’ve been emptied if you plan on using them again.
A study at the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University found that just about every bag tested came back with large amounts of dangerous pathogens such as coliform and E. coli, said The Washington Post. Raw meat or uncooked food contaminants—pointing to coliform bacteria—were in about half of the bags while E. coli was found in about 12 percent of the bags tested, wrote The Washington Post. The study explained that by simply putting the bags through the washer or even cleaning them by hand, cut the bacteria levels down to nothing, wrote The Washington Post. But, just about all the shoppers who were questioned for the study generally did not normally—if-ever—wash these reusable bags, while about one-third said that they did use their bags later for nonfood items.
The American Chemistry Council funded the study, wrote The Washington Post, noting that the study took place while a debate continues over a bill in California to ban single-use bags. The Council, said The Washington Post, is opposed to the bill.
Meanwhile, coliform is a pointer to potential fecal contamination and applies to a broad array of bacteria found in the environment—for instance mammal feces, soil, vegetation, and water—and can be used to determine if other fecal pathogens, such as E. coli, are in the test environment. Such pathogens indicate the potential presence of dangerous, sometimes deadly and disease-causing contaminants.
We frequently report on E. coli and have discussed that this is a bacterium—a fecal coliform—found in the intestines of mammals: Warm-blooded animals, including humans. E. coli present in a water system can point to recent sewage or animal waste contamination....
Yeah and we can reuse Toilet paper as well,Utter nonsense.
Of course this will happen. I try and wash my reuseable in the washing machine regularly. Wears them out faster but is a necesity.
So they’re saying meat is not pre-packaged anymore? When I buy ground beef and other meats I usually put them in a plastic sleeve and twist-tie it up.
DUHHHH! It takes a long time for some people to engage their brains!
No one else runs their bags through the washing machine on the hot cycle?
Ones my wife picked up (against my protests of course) got 3 washes before they started falling apart. Stitching coming off so holes in some, disconnected hand straps on others.
They weren’t the cheap $1 ones either, these were the “designer” $3 to $5 a pop ones that are showing up at various department stores now.
I always throw away bags that had meat or unbagged fresh fruit or veggies.
I wonder what the results were on tested bags that only had canned or pre-packed goods
Does the article refer to the thin plastic bags used by the retailers or plastic bags that are purchased separately?
I tried to use canvas bags years ago, but the grocery stores weren’t set-up to use them — there way no good place to put them or anything on which to hook the handles. I’d gladly bring my own bags. I’ve had enough of the thin plastic ones falling apart before I can even get the groceries home.
“E Coli Ebola Ebonics”
I think this may account for the offensive odor coming from the lady pushing the grocery cart with all the “green” reusable tote bags down at the Stop and Shop earlier this week.
Perhaps a major — and growing — source of those dreaded greenhouse gasses that are dooming the planet.
What germs the hot water, detergent and extra rinse doesn’t kill, I think the extra cycle in the electric dryer takes care of.
I always line my reusable grocery bags with paper bags, and change the paper ones every other week. Whole Foods provides me with the paper bags I use as liners! I also put all potentially germy stuff, such as chicken, in a couple of plastic bags.
reusable_bagFor a while, Norstrom was selling spiffy, metallic shiny ones for $20 in the scarf and accessories department. As if.
When asked if I want paper or plastic, I try to announce in my loudest possible voice that I wouldn't have anything other than plastic.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
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