Re-usable bags are every shoppers pal. They are cheap, easy to use and discard when their durability friendship ends. However, these bags, when not properly managed, can pose a health risk, besides being pollutants to the environment when discarded. Re-usable bags that come in the form of plastic and cloth are washable and cheap to maintain. They have been related to food poisoning and spoilage when they harbor germs and bacteria. This can happen when they are improperly washed, managed and stored in unfavorable conditions and the type of content put in them. A study by Home Food Safety Program shows that 85% of Americans do not wash their bags.

To overcome bag related health problems, following these basic and easy rules, which are practical in the threshold of our home, can help a great deal. Reusable bags should be cleaned by washing with a detergent and kept dry when they are not used. Tucking them away wet will harbor microorganisms that are favored by wet conditions. In line with that, do not store them in wet places. Use the dry bags whenever you go shopping.

Before going out shopping, one can spray the bag with an antibacterial spray to kill any germs that may have accumulated in storage periods. This ensures maximum safety for the products that are to be put inside. Wash your hands to avoid re-infection of the clean bags, discard any torn bags and acquire new ones.

Different foods have different contents that can be harmful when stored with others. So, do not mix the different products in one bag. Vegetables are put in a different bag with meat; meat is kept differently from juices, etc. After shopping, cleaning storage areas that come into contact with the bags will eliminate re-infections of the bags.