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If You're Not Careful, Harmful Bacteria Can Easily Grow in Your Reusable Shopping Bags
Hilex Poly ConsumerFeature
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READER SCRIPT
(DOES NOT FULLY MATCH AUDIO)
A RECENT, PEER-REVIEWED STUDY FOUND THAT MOST CONSUMERS NEVER WASH THEIR REUSABLE SHOPPING-BAGS BETWEEN USES. LARGE NUMBERS OF BACTERIA WERE FOUND IN ALMOST ALL OF THE TESTED BAGS--AND COLIFORM-BACTERIA WERE FOUND IN ABOUT HALF. EIGHT-PERCENT EVEN CONTAINED "E- COLI". IN ADDITION, ONLY THREE-PERCENT OF THE SHOPPERS IN THE SURVEY SAID THAT THEY WASHED THEIR REUSABLE BAGS BETWEEN USES. PERHAPS MORE SURPRISING, THOUGH, WERE THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO STATED THAT THEY USED THEIR BAGS NOT ONLY FOR FOOD-SHOPPING--BUT ALSO TO TRANSPORT CLOTHING AND OTHER PRODUCTS, TO AND FROM WORK AND THE GYM. AS A RESULT, SAYS DOCTOR CHARLES GERBA ["GURR-BAH"; HARD "G"]--WHO COMPLETED THE STUDY--BACTERIA GROW IN THE BAGS--AND CAN CONTAMINATE FOOD. SO, HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES? ACCORDING TO DOCTOR GERBA, WASHING YOUR REUSABLE BAGS IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY PROTECT YOUR FAMILY--AND WILL REMOVE 99.9-PERCENT OF GERMS. IN FACT, HE RECOMMENDS WASHING THE BAGS WITH HOT, SOAPY WATER, AFTER EACH USE. IN ADDITION, HE SAYS, FOR GROCERY-SHOPPING, IT HELPS TO KEEP YOUR MEATS IN SEPARATE PLASTIC BAGS--AND TO USE SEPARATE REUSABLE BAGS FOR YOUR FOOD-ITEMS.
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