With more and more stores charging for plastic shopping bags and California banning them from being handed out, a growing number of people are using various kinds of reusable shopping bags for their retail and grocery shopping.  With their use some questions arise on proper use with food items.

Reusable bags are environmentally friendly, but they aren’t always food friendly. According to a study sponsored by the Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC), some reusable bags harbor unfriendly bacteria. The study concluded that coliforms, intestinal E coli causing bacteria, were found in several reusable bags. This problem can be eradicated by using some simple kitchen food safety guidelines and applying them to the reusable bags.

Because the combination of crumbs, condensation from cold or frozen foods, and possible leaks from raw meat, poultry or fish is not uncommon in reusable bags, this can become a hazard. To eliminate these problems some simple, but important, steps must be taken. Be sure to clean totes you use to bag your meat and vegetable items regularly and thoroughly air them out to dry. If you have machine washable bags, use those for your meat and vegetable items as it is easier wash and dry them. Also, be sure to replace any bags that may have been over used. Food safety should be your first concern.