More and more, consumers are choosing reusable grocery bags to eliminate or reduce solid waste. Governments have supported this trend by encouraging voluntary reduction programs and adding fees for the use of plastic disposable grocery bags. But keeping reusable bags clean enough for the safe transportation of food can be a challenge. A moist cloth bag with traces of food debris can be a good breeding ground for bacteria.
To help keep your family safe while being environmentally friendly, the following is recommended:
- Don’t cross-contaminate. Food totes should be used for food products only. Use a separate diaper bag for babies, or for transporting gym equipment.
- Shake out grocery bags after each use to get rid of food debris.
- Choose reusable totes that can be properly cleaned and dried. Depending on the material that the totes are made of, run them through the washer and dryer often or hand wash and hang them to dry. It is important to turn the totes inside out when hanging to dry.
- Keep raw and ready to eat foods separated. Just as you would use separate cutting boards to prepare meat and fresh vegetables, use different totes to transport these products. Always use the same tote for meat and another for fresh produce. Try using a red tote for meat and a green tote for produce to easily remember which is which. This way meat, produce and ready to eat foods will always be separated.
- Double-bag meat and fresh produce. Prevent accidental leaks and spills by placing meat and produce in disposable plastic bags first. These single use bags are readily available at your grocery store in the meat and produce aisles.
- Replace old, worn out or ripped totes.
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