Reusable grocery bags may pose a public health risk

    TORONTO, May 19 /CNW/ - While reusable shopping bags are being
aggressively promoted by some grocery chains as an eco-friendly initiative,
new evidence now suggests that these bags may not be so friendly to your
health.
    The evidence - "A Microbiological Study of Reusable Grocery Bags"
(http://www.cpia.ca/files/files/A_Microbiological_Study_of_Reuseable_Plastic_G
rocery_Bags.pdf) - is the first study of its kind in North America. It looked
at whether reusable grocery bags become an active bacterial growth habitat and
breeding ground for yeast and mold after persistent use and pose a public
health risk.
    Swab-testing of a scientifically-meaningful sample of both single-use and
reusable grocery bags found unacceptably high levels of bacterial, yeast, mold
and coliform counts in the reusable bags.
    "The main risk is food poisoning", said Dr. Richard Summerbell, Director
of Research at Toronto-based Sporometrics and former Chief of Medical Mycology
for the Ontario Ministry of Health (1991-2000), who evaluated the study
results."But other significant risks include skin infections such as bacterial
boils, allergic reactions, triggering of asthma attacks, and ear infections."
    The swab testing was conducted March 7-April 10th by two independent
laboratories. The study found that 64% of the reusable bags were contaminated
with some level of bacteria and close to 30% had elevated bacterial counts
higher than the 500 CFU/mL considered safe for drinking water.
    Further, 40% of the bags had yeast or mold, and some of the bags had an
unacceptable presence of coliforms, faecal intestinal bacteria, when there
should have been 0.Some of the conclusions of the study are:

    -   The moist, dark, warm interior of a folded used reusable bag that has
        acquired a small amount of water and trace food contamination is an
        ideal incubator for bacteria. (See report
http://www.cpia.ca/files/files/A_Microbiological_Study_of_Reuseable_Plastic_Gr
ocery_Bags.pdf)).

    -   The strong presence of yeasts in some bags indicates the presence of
        water and microbial growth substrate (food). The yeasts are thus a
        'canary in the mine' confirming that microbes are growing in the bag.

    -   There is a potential for cross-contamination of food if the same
        reusable bags are used on successive trips; and

    -   Check-out staff in stores may be transferring these microbes from
        reusable bag to reusable bag as the contaminants get on their hands.

    -   In cases of food poisoning, experts are now going to have to test
        reusable bags in addition to food products as the possible sources of
        contamination."A growing problem", added Summerbell, "is possible exposure to the
superbug called 'community-acquired MRSA' if the reusables are used to
transport gym clothes or diapers in addition to groceries." MRSA
(methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a highly antibiotic-resistant
form of a common infectious bacterium. It first manifested in hospital
settings and demonstrated an ability to spread on contaminated surfaces, such
as unwashed hands and items they touched. The bacterium may enter grocery bags
if they are re-used to carry athletic equipment. Over 50% of the reusables
tested in this study were used as multi-purpose totes to carry gym equipment
and groceries.
    The research showed single-use bags and first-use reusables to be the
most sanitary and safest options with no evidence of bacterial or other
contaminants.
    "The presence of faecal material in some of the reusable bags is
particularly concerning," said Summerbell. "All meat products should be
individually wrapped before being placed in a reusable bag to prevent against
leakage. This should become a mandated safety standard across the entire
grocery industry."
    The study has been sent to the federal Sub-Committee on Food Safety
currently investigating the safety of Canada's food system, federal and
provincial health ministers and medical organizations across the country with
a request for immediate action.
    The research was conducted by Guelph Chemical Laboratories and Bodycote
Testing Group of Montreal. Oversight and evaluative commentary on the results
was undertaken by Toronto-based Sporometrics, the foremost experts in many
aspects of fungal and environmental bacterial testing in Canada. GCL tested 23
used reusables and Bodycote tested two older used bags (2 and 3 years old).
The Environment and Plastics Industry Council agreed to fund the testing.

For further information: Jaclyn Clare, [phone]