Reusable bags may present health risk

June 25, 2010

By hammersmith

[Source: The Arizona Republic] – Just when you were congratulating yourself for being green, new research arrives to make you think twice.

Those reusable grocery bags meant to replace the thin plastic ones can harbor germs and pose a risk to your health, according to a study by the University of Arizona.
 
The researchers tested 84 bags collected from shoppers in Tucson, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area and found that just over half were contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria. Twelve percent of the bags contained E. coli, which indicates possible fecal matter and more dangerous pathogens.

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