Live Healthy Live Well

The trend to “go green” with using cloth reusable shopping bags is a good one.  But how safe is it to reuse cloth for food products?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the materials used for reusable shopping bags can get contaminated with germs from food items.  The microorganisms Salmonella and E. coli are two of the main culprits found on food items that can be left behind in the reusable bags.

Keep you and your family from getting sick by following a few simple steps:

• Wash cloth bags in the washing machine often.
• Plastic lined reusable bags should be washed and dried by hand.
• Use separate bags for different food products.  Designate separate bags for meats, fruits and vegetables and ready-to-eat foods.  This will help prevent cross contamination.
• Use your grocery bags just for food products.  Don’t use the same bags for books, movies, toys or other items.

More information about using reusable shopping bags can be found at:  www.foodsafety.gov/blog/reusable_bags.html

Author:  Linnette Goard, Field Specialist, Food Safety, Selection and Management, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension.

Reviewed by:  Elizabeth Smith, NE Regional Program Specialist, SNAP-ED, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension.