Jillian pointed out earlier this week that some re-usable bags, which are now required in order to get your groceries home in L.A. County, qualify as toxic waste.
In addition, re-usable grocery bags can harbor dangerous bacteria such as e. coli and salmonella due to leaks from chicken and beef. So much so that eco-friendly groups have tutorials on their websites about how to avoid getting sick from using re-usable grocery bags.
From EcoVillageGreen:
We environmentally aware people love our reusable grocery bags, but would we feel the same way if we found them to be cesspools of bacteria and mold? That’s the troubling conclusion of a new research study that looked at what’s lurking inside these bags.
A recent study funded by the Canadian Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC) found that over 30% of reusable bags studied had unsafe levels of bacteria and 40% had some kind of yeast or mold. Cathy Cirko, VP of EPIC, said that reusable bags are “a breeding ground for bacteria and pose public health risks – food poisoning, skin infections such as bacterial boils, allergic reactions, triggering of asthma attacks, and ear infections.”
A recent study funded by the Canadian Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC) found that over 30% of reusable bags studied had unsafe levels of bacteria and 40% had some kind of yeast or mold. Cathy Cirko, VP of EPIC, said that reusable bags are “a breeding ground for bacteria and pose public health risks – food poisoning, skin infections such as bacterial boils, allergic reactions, triggering of asthma attacks, and ear infections.”
Yummy!