Food poisoning, bacterial boils, allergic reactions and asthma attacks. These are just a few of the possible health risks associated with reusable bags, claims a new study funded and conducted by the Canadian Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC).
The report, A Microbiological Study of Plastic Reusable Bags and `First or single-use’ Plastic Bags, found that reusable bags are a breeding ground for bacteria and a cause for concern.
Of an estimated 24 reusable bags tested, over 30% of the bags had unsafe levels of bacterial contamination, 40% had yeast or mold and some of the bags had intestinal faecal bacteria embedded in their surface, reports the plastic industry funded study.
However, many of the bags tested had been used for multi-purposes including transporting gym clothes and food shopping. More than 70% of the bags tested in the study had never been cleaned.
The study concluded that there was strong evidence reusable bags could pose a significant risk to the safety of the food supply if used to transport food from store to home and, surprisingly enough, single-use plastic shopping bags and first-use reusable bags showed no evidence of bacteria, mold, yeast or total coliforms; they were considered to be sanitary.
However, according to the Vancouver Sun, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, said that reusable bags do not pose a serious public health risk if consumers treat reusable bags as they would cutting-boards or food preparation surfaces. This means that people should wash them regularly and dry them well before storing them and prior their next use.
Reusable bags, like all porous material, needs to be regularly laundered with soap and water to ensure they remain clean and hygienic.
Read the complete study here.
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