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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/06/your-bag-for-life-doesnt-have-to-carry-a-food-poisoning-risk-heres-what-to-do
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| Your bag for life doesn't have to carry a food poisoning risk. Here's what to do | Your bag for life doesn't have to carry a food poisoning risk. Here's what to do |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is urging consumers to continue to shop for food with reusable “bags for life”, fearing that worries about the food poisoning risks could trigger a backlash and even a resurgence in the use of thin plastic bags. | The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is urging consumers to continue to shop for food with reusable “bags for life”, fearing that worries about the food poisoning risks could trigger a backlash and even a resurgence in the use of thin plastic bags. |
| The government’s food watchdog, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), recently updated its guidance for consumers on how to pack their food shopping, saying that the sturdier reusable bags normally bought from supermarkets can spread deadly food poisoning bacteria if they are used to carry raw foods such as fish and meat. | The government’s food watchdog, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), recently updated its guidance for consumers on how to pack their food shopping, saying that the sturdier reusable bags normally bought from supermarkets can spread deadly food poisoning bacteria if they are used to carry raw foods such as fish and meat. |
| That has raised the prospect of consumers having to pre-plan every food shopping trip like a military campaign, armed with a battery of different – and ideally colour-coded or labelled – bags to enable them to separate raw foods from ready-to-eat items and non-grocery items. | That has raised the prospect of consumers having to pre-plan every food shopping trip like a military campaign, armed with a battery of different – and ideally colour-coded or labelled – bags to enable them to separate raw foods from ready-to-eat items and non-grocery items. |
| The CIEH has now waded into the row, urging consumers to stick with the bags for life while being cautious about which food stuffs are placed in which bag. Urging a “commonsense” approach by consumers, it fears a resurgence in the use of single-use and thin plastic bags following a significant (85%) decrease since the 5p charge was introduced in England in 2015. | The CIEH has now waded into the row, urging consumers to stick with the bags for life while being cautious about which food stuffs are placed in which bag. Urging a “commonsense” approach by consumers, it fears a resurgence in the use of single-use and thin plastic bags following a significant (85%) decrease since the 5p charge was introduced in England in 2015. |
| “We must not cut down on our use of bags for life as a result of this warning from the Food Standards Agency,” said Tony Lewis, head of policy at the CIEH, which represents some 9,000 professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors. “The excessive use and disposal of plastics in our country is a growing problem which affects all of us and deeply damages our environment. Bags for life are integral to efforts to tackle this.” | “We must not cut down on our use of bags for life as a result of this warning from the Food Standards Agency,” said Tony Lewis, head of policy at the CIEH, which represents some 9,000 professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors. “The excessive use and disposal of plastics in our country is a growing problem which affects all of us and deeply damages our environment. Bags for life are integral to efforts to tackle this.” |
| Shoppers should be mindful of what food they are putting in which bag, he added, “and not mixing raw food with things which are ready to eat straight away. By being aware of the need for good hygiene, people can quite easily avoid picking up any damaging bacteria from their bags for life.” | Shoppers should be mindful of what food they are putting in which bag, he added, “and not mixing raw food with things which are ready to eat straight away. By being aware of the need for good hygiene, people can quite easily avoid picking up any damaging bacteria from their bags for life.” |
| Given the mixed messages, how can consumers sensibly take steps to reduce their risk of food poisoning without resorting to using more plastic? | Given the mixed messages, how can consumers sensibly take steps to reduce their risk of food poisoning without resorting to using more plastic? |
| What exactly is the problem? | What exactly is the problem? |
| The FSA has raised the dangers of mixing bag usage, highlighting that some food packaging can carry salmonella, E coli and campylobacter; the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. It quietly updated its advice in August, although it had published earlier guidelines for shoppers on packing food safely on the eve of the introduction of the plastic bag charge in England. | The FSA has raised the dangers of mixing bag usage, highlighting that some food packaging can carry salmonella, E coli and campylobacter; the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. It quietly updated its advice in August, although it had published earlier guidelines for shoppers on packing food safely on the eve of the introduction of the plastic bag charge in England. |
| Why are bags for life now being singled out? | Why are bags for life now being singled out? |
| A change in the law means that supermarkets and other large retailers in England have had to charge 5p for single-use bags since 2015. Charges were introduced in Wales in 2011, Northern Ireland in 2013 and Scotland in 2014. Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, recently stopped handing out single-use bags altogether. The charge was part of a government scheme to reduce litter and protect wildlife, given that plastic bags can take hundreds of years to break down. Bags for life – which are reused rather than thrown away – have become the bag of choice for shoppers since the introduction of the levy. | A change in the law means that supermarkets and other large retailers in England have had to charge 5p for single-use bags since 2015. Charges were introduced in Wales in 2011, Northern Ireland in 2013 and Scotland in 2014. Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, recently stopped handing out single-use bags altogether. The charge was part of a government scheme to reduce litter and protect wildlife, given that plastic bags can take hundreds of years to break down. Bags for life – which are reused rather than thrown away – have become the bag of choice for shoppers since the introduction of the levy. |
| How can there be cross-contamination even when raw foods are packaged? | How can there be cross-contamination even when raw foods are packaged? |
| Raw foods (meat, fish and shellfish, loose vegetables with soil on, and eggs) can contain germs or have germs on their surface that cause food poisoning, but are not visible to the human eye. Even wrapped raw foods such as pre-packed fresh meat or fish may have traces of harmful bugs on the outside of the packaging. | Raw foods (meat, fish and shellfish, loose vegetables with soil on, and eggs) can contain germs or have germs on their surface that cause food poisoning, but are not visible to the human eye. Even wrapped raw foods such as pre-packed fresh meat or fish may have traces of harmful bugs on the outside of the packaging. |
| How can I carry my food safely? | How can I carry my food safely? |
| You should pack and carry raw foods separately from read-to-eat foods and non-food items such as washing powder and household cleaners. Reusable bags could be colour coded or labelled to avoid any mix-up. | You should pack and carry raw foods separately from read-to-eat foods and non-food items such as washing powder and household cleaners. Reusable bags could be colour coded or labelled to avoid any mix-up. |
| If there has been visible spillage, seepage, soiling or damage, plastic bags for life should be replaced, while cotton ones should be machine-washed to keep them hygienic. The CIEH also recommends wiping out bags for life with warm water and a splash of bleach after each use. Also wash your hands when you get home and after unpacking your fresh food shopping to avoid any cross-contamination. | If there has been visible spillage, seepage, soiling or damage, plastic bags for life should be replaced, while cotton ones should be machine-washed to keep them hygienic. The CIEH also recommends wiping out bags for life with warm water and a splash of bleach after each use. Also wash your hands when you get home and after unpacking your fresh food shopping to avoid any cross-contamination. |
| Any other protection? | Any other protection? |
| Despite charging a small fee for plastic bags, supermarkets are supposed to offer free bags for raw meat at the checkout (even it is already packed in the supermarket’s own packaging) to stop you spreading any harmful germs. Not all have been doing this and if you’re paying for your shopping at the self-service till then you might not think to ask for one. | Despite charging a small fee for plastic bags, supermarkets are supposed to offer free bags for raw meat at the checkout (even it is already packed in the supermarket’s own packaging) to stop you spreading any harmful germs. Not all have been doing this and if you’re paying for your shopping at the self-service till then you might not think to ask for one. |
| Pick and choose | Pick and choose |
| The FSA points out that if you decide to purchase a ‘bag for life’, there is a variety on sale in supermarkets, made of different materials and in a range of styles and sizes. Many standard plastic bags for life will cost 10p, whereas other styles will be a bit more expensive. Consider what would work best for you. For example, you may want to be able to machine wash your bag for life to ensure it remains hygienic – in which case opt for a cotton-based one. | The FSA points out that if you decide to purchase a ‘bag for life’, there is a variety on sale in supermarkets, made of different materials and in a range of styles and sizes. Many standard plastic bags for life will cost 10p, whereas other styles will be a bit more expensive. Consider what would work best for you. For example, you may want to be able to machine wash your bag for life to ensure it remains hygienic – in which case opt for a cotton-based one. |
| Any light at the end of the tunnel? | Any light at the end of the tunnel? |
| Some manufacturers are developing bags for life that have anti-bacterial technology to make it safe to carry raw meat one day and general groceries the next. It is likely that enlightened retailers will start introducing simple, standardised colour-coded bags for life to echo those used for chilled and frozen foods. | Some manufacturers are developing bags for life that have anti-bacterial technology to make it safe to carry raw meat one day and general groceries the next. It is likely that enlightened retailers will start introducing simple, standardised colour-coded bags for life to echo those used for chilled and frozen foods. |
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