You may have noticed that many stores and restaurants are becoming more environmentally conscious by moving away from single-use plastics. Straws are no longer a guarantee with your smoothie and plastic bags might cost you a few cents each at the supermarket. So what about those plastic produce bags available above the apples? Should you pass on those, too?

Well, no. Not exactly.

If you want to do your part at the grocery store, make sure you bring reusable bags for your larger groceries, but also bring some smaller bags for your individual produce items, as well.

You see, not putting your produce in bags and putting it directly in your cart can be a very unsanitary practice. It might seem like the more sustainable choice, but when you put your broccoli or Romaine directly in the cart or on the conveyor belt, your food isn’t just touching that surface — it’s touching everything that touched that surface before it. The person before you could have dripped liquids from raw meat, or your cashier could transfer the germs on his hands from handling cash on to your kale. Yuck!

So what should a sustainable shopper do?

Don’t be deterred. Just because you can’t just throw your produce in the cart and carry on, doesn’t mean you have to load up on those thin breakable baggies either. Stock up on reusable nylon, cotton, or mesh bags of all sizes and carry several in with you when you go grocery shopping. Just make sure to cycle your eco-friendly bags through the washing machine on a regular basis.

If you want to get away from using baggies for bulk items like nuts, grains, or spices, most stores will allow you to fill mason jars. Just weigh the jar beforehand, so you know how much to deduct from the total.

Always keep it clean

No matter what option you choose, your produce is going to come in contact with germs at some point in its journey. So never skip out on washing your fruits and veggies — yes, even if they’re organic. You still have produce handlers and shipping containers you’re working against.

And just because your produce has thick skin like a lemon, you’re not off the hook. A knife can easily transfer bacteria on the outside, to the edible inside. The USDA even warns against not washing your avocados properly.


Also see, How to recycle plastic grocery bags.


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Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.