topic Re: Reusable Grocery Bags in Community Chat

Reusable Grocery Bags

ScrapHappy — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:03:30 GMT

I remember hearing on the news or someplace at the beginning of the pandemic not to use reusable grocery bags. I haven't but wondered if it's safe to do so now?

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:05:08 GMT

I have been using mine the whole time.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

bonappetit — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:12:14 GMT

Google CDC.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

Jordan2 — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:12:34 GMT

I live in NYC, they had banned plastic bags, then when the pandemic set, the bags came back. Some stores don’t want you to bring your bags. One supermarket I go to has plastic bags, the other has paper bags they charge you a nickel apiece for. You can bring your own bags from home, but you will be packing your own groceries, the cashier isn’t touching your bags.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

noodleann — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:13:29 GMT

@ScrapHappy wrote:
I remember hearing on the news or someplace at the beginning of the pandemic not to use reusable grocery bags. I haven't but wondered if it's safe to do so now?

None of the supermarkets in my area will allow checkers to use customer-provided bags of any kind. If you check yourself out, you can use them. Just so the employees don't handle them, is my understanding.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

Icegoddess — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:19:06 GMT

Around here I never even heard of not using reusable bags until I read it on the forums here. I know my local Publix still sell them. I use the plastic bags every day when I clean the litter box, so I haven't been using the reusable ones. However, when it got hot I started taking one of my insulated bags for my cold stuff and they had no problem with it and they filled it. I don't mind bagging my own groceries and would've done it myself no problem if they didn't want to. At least I no longer have a problem with my milk going bad since I changed to the full fat ultra-filtered stuff.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

Travone — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:31:11 GMT

Only one of our grocery chains allows us to now bring in our own bags. But you must pack it yourself and you can not put it on the counter. It is a contamination issue.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

ALRATIBA — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:35:51 GMT

For years, both Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have had reusable grocery bags. I have a thermal bag from one of them that I alway use for cold/frozen foods. I've used the bags for years.

None of the food I buy touches the bag. It's in a can, box, plastic wrapper or plastic bag.

Funny thing happened at Walgreens the other day - you need your own bags or pay for their paper bags.

I take my cloth bag out for the clerk - and she wouldn't touch it. I had to pack my own (clean cloth) bag. Not a big deal - but t was amusing.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

deeva — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:00:49 GMT

I hate using plastic bags. Target, Sprouts and Wal-Mart allow reusable bags.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

Twoaces — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:10:56 GMT

In San Diego, Vons and Albertson’s were using plastic for free, requiring that during the shutdown. Now they are back to charging a fee for paper or plastic. You may bring your own to pack yourself. Pre pandemic you could bring your own bags which they would fill for you. ( it’s still hard to believe that this isn’t all a bad dream, grocery bags being the very, very least of it!)

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

FrostyBabe1 — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:20:54 GMT

In my area of Michigan, the vast majority of stores will not let me use my own bags. even if I bag my own groceries.

Meijer will allow it I use their shop & scan option, but I rarely shop there. The few pennies I might save are offset by the inconvenience of it being a huge, busy store.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

dulwich — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:36:33 GMT

Our local supermarket has banned all reusesble bags they pack all items into the brown paper bags which they supply at checkout.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

FlowerBear — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:37:30 GMT

I havent used any and toss the store bags into the trash. I used to keep some of them.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

catter70 — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:05:32 GMT

I always use plastic bags. When I've unpacked, I pass them on to my sister and she uses them for when she walks her dog and needs a "poop" bag.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

Krimpette — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:36:38 GMT

My local Trader Joe's does not currently allow you to bring your own bag. They typically double bag all my purchases.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

Jordan2 — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:41:04 GMT

If a store won't let you bring your own bags, they shouldn't charge you for supplying theirs.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

ECBG — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:43:19 GMT

When reuseable bags began, some that had been used were found with the strep virus.

I have never used them, and don't plan to.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

sunshine45 — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:45:12 GMT

in my area, if you want to use your own bags, you must bag your own stuff.

if you want the cashier or bagger to bag your items, you have to use paper or plastic that they provide.

i am currently NOT using my own bags, but trying to use the stores paper bags when i can so that they can easily be recycled.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

lovesrecess — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:53:39 GMT

I have always had a few I use but when they told me I had to put them on the floor and pack them myself, I stopped using them. I keep them in the car and out the plastic bags into them when I get to the car and makes it easier to carry into the house.

Re: Reusable Grocery Bags

goldensrbest — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 19:02:43 GMT

Here we are allowed ,i used them today, it is so hot here,i was glad.