Green Grocery Bags May Hold A Nasty Surprise
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: September 30, 2010
Reusable grocery bags are the green way to shop, but a new study finds they could be hiding a nasty surprise.
Nearly all 84 reusable grocery bags tested in a random sample were swarming with potentially dangerous bacteria.
Over ten percent were contaminated with e-Coli, and half tested positive for another dangerous form of bacteria called coliform.
Experts say the bags likely became contaminated by raw meat or undercooked food.
Fortunately the bags can be easily disinfected by running them through the wash.
97-percent of study participants had never washed or bleached their bags.
The joint study was conducted by the University of Tucson and Loma Linda University.
