Keeping ourselves and the environment healthy

As one traverses through grocery stores and other shops throughout the Bay St. George area, it's encouraging to see residents making choices that are benefiting the environment.

Many people can be seen toting around reusable shopping bags and plastic bins which greatly aid in reducing the amount of plastic ending up in our landfills and dumps.

However, people may not be aware of a potential problem with these bags and containers. Last week, Health Canada issued a list of steps that people should be mindful of to prevent cross-contamination of foods with bacteria that can cause food borne illness.

As reusable bags and containers are used and reused, they can pick up bacteria from several sources: such as from foods being carried or from the ground or other places where they placed down or stored.

Here are some tips provided by Health Canada to help prevent the spread of bacteria:

Ensure that cloth bags and bins are washed regularly, especially if they're being used to carry raw meats.

Some reusable bags are not machine washable. These can be cleaned by hand washing with hot soapy water. (Or check the item's label for other cleaning options.)

Use a separate bag or container to carry raw meats, especially to ensure they don't come in contact with produce or ready-to-eat foods.

Grocery stores often have clear bags available to wrap up raw meats, so just ask for them at the checkout (or use fresh produce bags). They will help keep blood and other juices from leaking out into the bag or container.

Likewise, fresh produce should be put into clear bags for protection (found in the produce department).

If you're going to use your grocery bag or containers to carry other items, they should be washed before using them again for groceries.

Health Canada estimates there are about 11 million cases of food-related illnesses in Canada annually, many of which can be prevented with proper handling and preparation.

With a bit of common sense, we can help keep both the environment and ourselves clean and healthy for many years to come.