Reusable bags more harm than good?

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Many grocery shoppers now won't leave home without them. But could reusable bags actually be more harm than good?

A new study from Canada found that two thirds of reusable bags contained some type of harmful bacteria. Food safety expert Lori Pivarnik said the bacteria can often come from leaky meat packages.

"Those juices will then get into a reusable bag and since we are not throwing those bags away, those juices will stay there," said Dr. Lori Pivarnik.

If the bags are then used again for ready to eat items like cheese or fruit, that's when contamination problems can occur. To prevent these problems, Janice Anderson at Providence's East Side Market always offers to wrap certain items separately.

Anderson said "That's if they have meat, to wrap it up into a separate bag before we put it into a reusable bag so the meat won't leak onto their other groceries."

Pivarnik said customers can also use the plastic bags placed just above the meat section. In addition, she suggests designating bags which are only used for holding the same types of food on future trips to the store. Washing the bags also helps.

"We wash them with soap, sometimes a little bleach, and then we put them out to dry," said Berta Orellana.

In the end, it's not about getting rid of reusable bags, just using common sense.

Pivarnik said it's best to buy heavy duty reusable bags because they will last longer, even after repeated washes.