I just came across a post on Earth911.com that discusses a study that warns of the hazards of using reusable bags.
“The 15-page study releases the findings of two independent testing laboratories, showing that unclean reusable bags can pose a public health risk due to high levels of mold, bacteria and yeast present in the samples.” Source: Earth911.com
The article does mention that the study was commissioned by a committee off the Canadian Plastics Industry Association. As with anything reusable, cleaning the product is necessary. So of course, a bag that is used over and over is going to grow mold, bacteria, and/or yeast. However, it won’t leech toxins into your food and sit in a landfill for centuries.
Read the entire report, A Microbiological Study of Reusable Grocery Bags (PDF).
Photo by tyger_lyllie
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