Community Chat

[SeaMaiden]

I will just use plastic bags until this pandemic is over...recycle them....I do not want my own bags getting dirty and I have  wash them each time....plus it is easier for the checker not to have my own bags. They have enough on their plate,

[shoesnbags]

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@ALRATIBA wrote:

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. 

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@ALRATIBA 

That's interesting - My Walgreens still puts things in the

 disposable plastic bags.  

[ALRATIBA]

@shoesnbags 

NYC mandated reusable, and stores were allowed to continue plastic to use up their supply.

Walgreens started the reusable a few weeks ago.  

Not such a big deal - I have "cute" colorful reusable cloth grocery totes.

Only negative - I used the plastics for trash, and now I have to buy plastic trash liners!

[Mindy D]

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@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?

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@ScrapHappy @Right now, it's best to use disposeable unless you have washable cloth bags, especially if you can use chlorine bleach. The reusable bags can hold onto pathogens if they aren't washed.

[arrabella]

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@Imaoldhippie wrote:

I have been using mine the whole time.

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Me too.

[MamaWick]

I have been using mine. After groceries are put up, they get a good wipe out along with Lysol spray which I had been doing even before the pandemic.

[DiAnne]

I heard them tell a shopped in Trader Joe's that if she could use her bags but she would have to bag her groceries herself.  I think Most places around here giver paper bags not plastic.  

[eadu4]

Nothing in my area changed.  You want to use your own, then bring them and use them otherwise they are bagged in the standard plastic bags.  I don't have a problem with either one.  I'm not worried about a bag.  But if you're concerned bring your own to use.  The checkouts use a new one on the spinning turnstyle each time.  But it's just how much fear you have, your individual risk level.  And there is the environmental issue alone that prompts people to use their own.  I mean if you really want to analyze it down- the food you touched, the chek out belt and just the basket could be a carrier so the bag at that point is really a mute point.  But if that much worries you,  you might be better off staying home. There is no way to sanitize everything and everyone period.  The median age of the covid deaths is 78.  Where a mask and do what you need to.  :-) 

[suzyQ3]

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@eadu4 wrote:

Nothing in my area changed.  You want to use your own, then bring them and use them otherwise they are bagged in the standard plastic bags.  I don't have a problem with either one.  I'm not worried about a bag.  But if you're concerned bring your own to use.  The checkouts use a new one on the spinning turnstyle each time.  But it's just how much fear you have, your individual risk level.  And there is the environmental issue alone that prompts people to use their own.  I mean if you really want to analyze it down- the food you touched, the chek out belt and just the basket could be a carrier so the bag at that point is really a mute point.  But if that much worries you,  you might be better off staying home. There is no way to sanitize everything and everyone period.  The median age of the covid deaths is 78.  Where a mask and do what you need to.  :-) 

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@eadu4, even if this is true (recently it's been skewed younger), what is the relevance of that regarding grocery bagging?

[suzyQ3]

All the markets in my locale (SoCal) allow your own bags only if you pack them yourself, which I totally get.

I just use their paper bags. Yes, they do charge for them, but it's a pittance. It's actually a state mandate or law.

I get most of my groceries online and the go only to T.J's once a week from certain items I want to pick myself. T.J's runs a tight pandemic ship.