Do u use re-usable bags? If so, read this...

[ilovediznee]

NBC new reported tonight that they found E-Coli in over 70% of re-usable bags that they tested! Traces can be left from meat and veggies we put in the bags. They advise everyone to wash them!

Diane

 

[Magic Mom]

I heard about that on the radio today. Sounds disgusting.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I mentioned this (well not what you posted, but similar loc stories on the topic) on the anti-plastic threads and folks seemed to not care since they don't put meat in them. But yes, produce can be tainted as well.

These bags may be good for the planet, but they can make you sick. I tried washing the dollar bags and they look tattered when they are done so I have given up.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

That is why my husband won't use them. I have plenty of them but it grosses him out and he won't budge about it.

The only time I use them is the bookstore, cvs or if I'm buying things like cereal in a closed box.

I don't save plastic bags from the grocery store if anything perishable was inside that bag either.

 

[bellebud]

That is why my husband won't use them. I have plenty of them but it grosses him out and he won't budge about it.

The only time I use them is the bookstore, cvs or if I'm buying things like cereal in a closed box.

I don't save plastic bags from the grocery store if anything perishable was inside that bag either.

I have always used the plastic grocery bags for garbage bags for our small bathroom garbage pails and for garbage bags in the car. so even though I always have used plastic, I at least use them again for garbage, so it helps the planet a tiny bit (I guess).

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I have a heavy duty canvas tote from Trader Joe's, a home-made reversible tote and a couple of totes from Aeropostale and Pink by Victoria's Secret that I use for grocery type things. I bought each of these bags at thrift stores for less than $1 each. They all wash beautifully, too. However, we re-use about 95% of the plastic bags that come into our home, so I'm not really adamant about them.

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi ilovediznee,
That is great information and likely something that most do not think of. Thanks for sharing!

 

[minniebeth]

Thanks for sharing~
I guess the canvas bags, cloth, etc. are good to wash, but the majority of the bags they sell, are they even washable? Most of the ones we have (and a lot of them) are from Whole Foods and are made out of the plastic milk jugs. Even though they feel almost like cloth, they are really plastic. Anyone try to wash these?

 

[kidshop]

How about just spraying them with Lysol?

 

[cruisnfamily]

anybody have a link to an article on this?

 

[Sparx]

Okay. I don't understand how E.Coli is showing up in these bags unless people are putting dripping raw meat in these bags and that's just gross. This really just seems like common sense to me.

 

[schmitty]

One package of meat in the fridge is ripped or has some stuff dripping, it touches the other meat. People move one package of meat to get to another. Its really easy for it to move from one package to another.

 

[fluffycow333]

Okay. I don't understand how E.Coli is showing up in these bags unless people are putting dripping raw meat in these bags and that's just gross. This really just seems like common sense to me.

I don't get it either

One package of meat in the fridge is ripped or has some stuff dripping, it touches the other meat. People move one package of meat to get to another. Its really easy for it to move from one package to another.

Don't people put the packages of meat in plastic bags? My grocery store has little bags that you put the meat in. Same with vegetables. Do other stores have this?

 

[Briarmom]

Don't people put the packages of meat in plastic bags? My grocery store has little bags that you put the meat in. Same with vegetables. Do other stores have this?

Mine was out today (for the meat, I didn't go back to the veg section to grab more as the store was mobbed). They put the meat in one of my reusable bags. I don't really understand how I'll get sick from this when I won't use them for at least a few days. Even if I put unwrapped veggies in my E Coli covered bag, wouldn't the E coli be dead by then?

 

[mickeywho?]

I put meat in little plastic bags and the produce too. Then it's put into my cloth bags at the checkout - although the cashier always asks if I want the meat and/or milk in a plastic grocery bag - which I will sometimes do. My family does try to do their best to "reduce/reuse/recycle". So, if I sometimes gather too many plastic bags (which isn't often because we've already "reduced" the amount we bring home, and "reuse" what we do have, we can bring them to the store where they will "recycle". Win-win. And no, never washed these bags, they would probably fall apart if I did....

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Something that just occurred to me. . .would it also be reasonable to assume that there is probably e.coli on shopping carts?

 

[mickeywho?]

Something that just occurred to me. . .would it also be reasonable to assume that there is probably e.coli on shopping carts?

It's everywhere....

Seriously - wash your hands and don't lick the cart and you'll be fine.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay. I don't understand how E.Coli is showing up in these bags unless people are putting dripping raw meat in these bags and that's just gross. This really just seems like common sense to me.

Produce can become contaminated and that contaminates the bag. Raw meat doesn't have to go anywhere near it.



http://nutrition.about.com/od/ahealthykitchen/a/washveggies.htm

 

[qtwns]

How about just spraying them with Lysol?

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[SKWDW]

NBC new reported tonight that they found E-Coli in over 70% of re-usable bags that they tested! Traces can be left from meat and veggies we put in the bags. They advise everyone to wash them!
Diane

Common sense should dictate that you don't put raw meat directly in a re-usable bag. We use a liner bag each time.

Also important to note (as it was in our newspaper) is that this study was commissioned and released by the plastics industry. They clearly have a vested interest in promoting the use of plastic bags rather than re-usable bags.