Is It Safe to Skip Plastic Produce<br />Bags When Grocery Shopping? Many people have recently shifted away<br />from using plastic produce bags in order<br />to be more environmentally conscious. While it may seem like the more sustainable<br />choice, it also has unsanitary drawbacks. Traditional grocery store carts have<br />been found to have 73,356 colony-forming<br />units (CFU) per square inch. That’s about 361 times more<br />dirty than a bathroom doorknob. Grocery store conveyor belts are also bacteria hubs,<br />as the PVC material it’s made of is porous, meaning<br />it's hard to clean and bacteria-filled. It’s also important to take into account<br />how many staff and customers have already<br />touched the food item you’re purchasing. Instead of going bagless, which increases<br />your foods exposure to all these things,<br />it’s best to bring a re-usable bag. Re-usable mesh, nylon and cotton bags will allow you<br />to avoid plastic waste and decrease germ exposure. No matter what method you decide on,<br />the most important thing is to properly clean<br />your fruits and veggies before eating them.
