A few years back numerous studies were done to detect how much bacteria covered grocery store shopping cart handles. The studies confirmed that shopping cart handles had more germs than public restrooms. Researchers made their rounds on TV news programs claiming that shopping carts were one of the worst public places for germs and that shoppers should take precautions.
Now, it seems some grocery store customers are getting help from the government (well, at least residents in Arkansas are) to stay healthy while shopping. State lawmakers are trying to pass a law to get stores to clean their carts. The new law would “highly encourage” (rather than “mandate”) that grocery stores provide anti-bacterial wipes at all store entrances so customers don’t run the risk of being exposed to the previous shopper’s bacteria.
“Every kid in America teethes on shopping cart handles,” one doctor wrote in his report regarding bacteria and shopping carts. “They don’t have the best sanitary habits. … I mean, you’re putting your broccoli where their butt was.”
Not exactly a pleasant thought. But, the doctor backs up his research by unveiling other findings including the fact that tests were done on various public surfaces. The results: the shopping carts were loaded with more blood, urine, mucus, saliva, and even fecal matter than escalators, public telephones, and public bathrooms. According to one study, the only surfaces that had more germs were playground equipment and bus rails.
Doctors’ say at the very least prolonged exposure to bacteria such as E. coli, which was found on many shopping carts, could cause gastrointestinal diarrhea-type illnesses. We don’t live in Arkansas so I’m not expecting our grocer to be handing out free Clorox wipes anytime soon. I do carry hand sanitizer with me and use it after I am done shopping. Also, my 3-year-old daughter refuses to sit in a grocery cart so that cuts down on her exposure to germ-infested cart handles.
Doctors say to lower your risk of getting sick from nasty grocery store carts, it’s important to wash your hands (and your child’s hands) with hot water and soap. Another option is using a baby shopping seat cover. I got one as a gift at my baby shower and never used it because of my daughter’s complete disdain for shopping cart seats. When she was a baby I placed her infant car seat carrier in the grocery cart and never had a problem.
Does your child sit in the grocery cart? What measures do you take to protect him or her?
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