I saw this on our local news and this really gives you something to think about.. I know I’ve grabbed my reusable bags for other things..
Have a good day..
By: Nicole Nichols : 6/30/2010 7:14:47 AM : 271 comments : 20,119 Views
Living an eco-friendly lifestyle is just as much a part of me as living a healthy lifestyle is, and I often think that the two are very much related. While we may all feel differently about how our actions are affecting the planet, I think we can all agree that conserving resources and reducing waste are good steps for everyone. And many things that are good for the planet are great for your body, like walking or biking more, avoiding the harsh chemicals found foods or beauty products, or growing your own food.
One of the first changes many of us have made already was to purchase reusable grocery totes to limit single-use plastic and paper bags from the grocery store. Simple, easy, good for the planet—good all around, right? Well, a recent report found that these bags, while eco-friendly, might be bad for your health.
I love using my reusable bags. I even have bumper stickers on my car that say BYOB (bags, that is!), so I took note when I saw a news story linking reusable bags to public health risk.
Researchers from the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University tested the reusable grocery bags carried by shoppers in three major cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tucson. They found E. coli in half the bags sampled, some at levels significant enough to cause health problems, even death. They also found that 97% of the shoppers interviewed had never washed or sanitized their totes, even though, according to co-author Charles Gerba, Ph.D., washing them would kill nearly all bacteria that accumulate in reusable bags.
I guess this doesn’t completely surprise me, but I admit that it’s something I’ve never really thought about before. While it’s definitely something to cause concern, I don’t think we need to swear off our use of these bags completely. In fact, researchers offered four tips in the article to reduce your risk of illness when using reusable bags.
1.Sanitize your bags after every use. While all bags are made of different materials, many are machine washable or could be disinfected with a sanitizing wipe, for example. I occasionally wash my own bags, but only the soft, cotton bags I own that easily go in and out of the washer. If you haven’t yet purchased reusable bags or plan to get more in the future, consider purchasing those that are easily washable.
2.Separate raw foods from other food products. This is to prevent cross contamination.
3.Do not use reusable food bags for other purposes. OK, I am totally guilty of this one. Not only do I use my bags for multiple purposes (carrying books to the library, toting my lunch to work, as a carryon at the airport), but I bring them when shopping anywhere I go, not just the grocery store. Going forward, I may just stick with my washable cotton bags for the grocery and the not-easy-to-wash bags for other purposes.
4.Do not leave reusable bags in your car. Researchers say that the high temperatures inside your car will only promote the growth of bacteria. Guilty here, too. I store my bags in the car most of the time so that I don’t forget to bring them back to the store.
Overall, I think this is a good reminder for all of us who tote these bags back and forth. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be adding my bags to the laundry this weekend!
Read more: http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=could_reusable_bags_be_hazardous_to_your_health#ixzz0uQDHXneb
http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=could_reusable_bags_be_hazardous_to_your_health
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
Capitol Report: Deputies, inspectors make early morning visit to raw milk supplier
I sure do miss the raw milk.When I go to PA to our Amish friends always so nice to have raw milk..
Early this morning as the Hershberger family was eating breakfast, officers with the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department and state inspectors paid a visit to the known raw-milk supplier’s property.
Erma Hershberger said several of her nine children were in the farm’s store, with the door locked, when officials attempted to serve her and her husband, Vernon, with a warrant to search the property.
The children did not open the door, Erma said by phone Thursday morning.
“This is pretty traumatic for our family,” Erma said. “We hope this will end soon … but I don’t think it will.”
Erma said her husband called the sheriff’s department and asked that the officers leave their property. Officers complied, with an inspector with the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection then calling Vernon to request a visit for 10 a.m.
Officials showed up at 10 a.m., only to again be denied access to the farm’s “member’s only” store. Items in the store include meats and dairy products, including raw milk.
“They left the property and are now consulting with law enforcement officials on the next steps,” said Lee Sensenbrenner, a DATCP spokesperson.
Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed a bill that would have allowed limited raw milk sales in May. Since then, numerous visits have been made to farms known to be selling raw milk.
In addition to selling raw milk, Hershberger is also operating a store without a retail food license and does not have a dairy license, two additional legal strikes against him in the state’s eyes.
Erma said supporters were at the farm, filming the state’s visit and remained on their property as a show of support.
For those who have not been following the raw milk debate, Hershberger was paid a visit June 2 by DATCP inspectors, who were coming to the farm because Hershberger failed to complete a routine questionnaire after choosing not to renew his Grade B dairy license in February.
A day after Hershberger was told to close up shop, he defied the state and opened his store for business. That same day, he created a herd-lease program for his cows.
Such programs allow people to lease farms animals, in this case cows, from the farmer. Hershberger says this gives the roughly 100 families who consider themselves part of the lease program “ownership” in the farm.
By law, only farm owners, their families and their employees can drink raw milk. The validity of that argument will be tested soon in Dane County Circuit Court under a separate, but similar, case set to begin Tuesday.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt_and_politics/blog/article_4f5d084e-74ac-11df-9b16-001cc4c002e0.html
Early this morning as the Hershberger family was eating breakfast, officers with the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department and state inspectors paid a visit to the known raw-milk supplier’s property.
Erma Hershberger said several of her nine children were in the farm’s store, with the door locked, when officials attempted to serve her and her husband, Vernon, with a warrant to search the property.
The children did not open the door, Erma said by phone Thursday morning.
“This is pretty traumatic for our family,” Erma said. “We hope this will end soon … but I don’t think it will.”
Erma said her husband called the sheriff’s department and asked that the officers leave their property. Officers complied, with an inspector with the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection then calling Vernon to request a visit for 10 a.m.
Officials showed up at 10 a.m., only to again be denied access to the farm’s “member’s only” store. Items in the store include meats and dairy products, including raw milk.
“They left the property and are now consulting with law enforcement officials on the next steps,” said Lee Sensenbrenner, a DATCP spokesperson.
Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed a bill that would have allowed limited raw milk sales in May. Since then, numerous visits have been made to farms known to be selling raw milk.
In addition to selling raw milk, Hershberger is also operating a store without a retail food license and does not have a dairy license, two additional legal strikes against him in the state’s eyes.
Erma said supporters were at the farm, filming the state’s visit and remained on their property as a show of support.
For those who have not been following the raw milk debate, Hershberger was paid a visit June 2 by DATCP inspectors, who were coming to the farm because Hershberger failed to complete a routine questionnaire after choosing not to renew his Grade B dairy license in February.
A day after Hershberger was told to close up shop, he defied the state and opened his store for business. That same day, he created a herd-lease program for his cows.
Such programs allow people to lease farms animals, in this case cows, from the farmer. Hershberger says this gives the roughly 100 families who consider themselves part of the lease program “ownership” in the farm.
By law, only farm owners, their families and their employees can drink raw milk. The validity of that argument will be tested soon in Dane County Circuit Court under a separate, but similar, case set to begin Tuesday.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt_and_politics/blog/article_4f5d084e-74ac-11df-9b16-001cc4c002e0.html
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