Reusable grocery bags bad for the environment and pose health risk?

WTF??? CBC News reported that reusable bags the "must-have for the eco-conscious shopper" may contain unsafe levels of lead. . . Health Canada is currently looking into the lead issue. Last year Health Canada issued an advisory warning consumers about the use of reusable shopping bags. However at that time their concern had nothing to do with lead but instead of E. coli and other food born cross-contamination.

A research study by the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University in California found there is "a serious threat to public health, especially from E. coli" and that "consumers are alarmingly unaware of these risks".

The best case scenario is that consumers sterilize their reusable shopping with bleach and hot water after use which will kill nearly all bacteria that accumulate. Of course, this would pose environmental risks to the water table with more chlorine bleach entering the water table as it is rinsed down the drain.

The largest problem comes from cross-contamination. By re-using a bag without sanitizing it between uses, which the study found 97% of consumers do not do, foods are allowed to contaminate the bag which then cross-contaminates the next purchase.

The National Post reported last year that two independent laboratories found unacceptably high level of bacterial, yeast, mold and coliform counts in the reusable bags. "The main risk is food poisoning" Dr. Richard Summerbell says.

....It seems the best way for consumers to protect themselves is to demand the grocery store clerk washes their hands to avoid cross-contamination from previous customers filthy reusable bags. Then bag everything in plastic bags which you then place yourself into your own reusable bag. Once at home make sure you sanitize your reusable bag using chlorine bleach.

Being green in this case appears to come at a cost, to your wallet and to the environment.

Read full via The New Recipe Times