How clean are your reusable shopping bags?
I came across this post in one of my emails today and found it interesting and something that a lot of people don't think about very much. I always had bags for fruits and veggies, bags for dairy, bags for meat and then bags for other. Ii bet a lot of people don't though. And, do you clean your bags??? Here are some great tips:
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http://www.freshjuice.ca/img/photos/...ery-Bag-15.jpgHow Clean Is Your Grocery Bag?
Reusable grocery bags may be eco-friendly, but they can also be breeding grounds for bacteria. Follow these tips to avoid cross-contamination.
How Clean Is Your Grocery Bag?
You disinfect your counters, wash your hands before cooking and always store raw meat safely, but do you sanitize your grocery bags? "Most people are familiar with the risks attributed to cross-contamination in our kitchens but think very little of [cross-contamination] during shopping," says Kevin Allen, an assistant professor of food microbiology at the University of British Columbia.
In recent years, reusable grocery totes have gained in popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to recyclable plastic bags. While their environmental benefits can't be denied, Allen warns that reusable bags can become contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, passing bacteria such as salmonella onto other foods.
But there's no need to switch back to plastic. Just follow these tips to make sure your grocery bags are as clean as your kitchen.
Organize your grocery bags
Health Canada recommends splitting your reusable grocery bags into two categories: one set for raw meat, poultry and fish, and one for ready-to-eat foods such as fruit and vegetables. This will help minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
Tip: Buying bags in two different colours will help you remember which are which.
Use extra protection
When buying raw meat and other high-risk foods, Allen suggests taking advantage of the clear plastic bags at the meat and fish counters. An extra layer of plastic will help prevent the meat from contaminating your grocery bag (and, potentially, other foods).
Keep 'em clean
Even if you make sure to wrap your meat in plastic before taking it home, there's no guarantee your grocery bag hasn't come in contact with bacteria. "It's impossible to know whether a food is contaminated, so ensuring that you're cleaning and disinfecting your reusable bags is essential in minimizing possible cross-contamination," says Allen.
If you're using thick plastic reusable bags, Allen recommends wiping them down with a commercial cleaning product or a diluted bleach solution after each use. If you're using cloth bags, make sure to toss them in the wash on a regular basis; using the dryer afterward will help kill off any remaining bacteria.
