tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post4472614398526798685..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Reusable Grocery Bags: Their Contents and DiscontentsVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54951796317211688632011-08-02T00:40:16.759-04:002011-08-02T00:40:16.759-04:00"meat juice" cracks me up. Are you refer..."meat juice" cracks me up. Are you referring to blood, pus and mucus?JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12150074381995367740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50486706733776772362011-06-20T15:53:44.247-04:002011-06-20T15:53:44.247-04:00here in Ireland we have a plastic bag levy, everyo...here in Ireland we have a plastic bag levy, everyone either uses reusable bags or pays €.22 per bag. the exception is a bag for meat. I very carefully avoid all excess packaging as far as possible. while I wouldn't want meat juice dripping all over my other stuff the idea of worrying about a bit of dirt from unwashed veg makes no sense to me, has everyone lost touch with where food comes from?....when I am in the US and a cashier bags thing anyway after being asked not to I am quite happy to take the items out of their bag and put them in mine and leave theirs on the counter.donmcmahanhttp://www.donmcmahan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-24167712744992486492011-04-17T17:40:38.448-04:002011-04-17T17:40:38.448-04:00I decline the extra plastic bags and put my grocer...I decline the extra plastic bags and put my groceries directly into my reusable grocery bag, usually the meat in its own bag. Then I wash the bags that have had meat in them.Janetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10120390311019076192011-04-11T17:05:05.020-04:002011-04-11T17:05:05.020-04:00Not me. I don't have any bacteria down there b...Not me. I don't have any bacteria down there because I lick it clean constantly.Peppy (the amazing self-sterilizing cat)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-42154191693122996932011-04-11T16:59:06.474-04:002011-04-11T16:59:06.474-04:00Doesn't research show that there more bacteria...<i>Doesn't research show that there more bacteria on our hands than in our underwear? : ) </i><br /><br />You're comparing apples and oranges. Our shirt <i>cuffs</i> versus our underwear? Or our hands versus our <i>crotch area</i>? I would argue that there is far more bacteria in our crotch area than on our hands, but that's more from sweat and heat than anything else, and the fact that we wash our hands many times a day. Plus, the "demographics" are totally different. We have a highly hierarchical flora of bacterial and yeast species all over our bodies. But in terms of sheer numbers, my money is, um... down there.somervillainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13903377050982678550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-42065836508567027432011-04-11T10:05:43.400-04:002011-04-11T10:05:43.400-04:00My wife and I have 2 insulated bags that we carry ...My wife and I have 2 insulated bags that we carry in addition to our cloth bags. One for meat and one for other items that need refrigeration like cheese and milk.Bikin' Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814410629934462672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60048315739233350152011-04-10T20:59:46.699-04:002011-04-10T20:59:46.699-04:00I'm a little late to the party - but I found s...I'm a little late to the party - but I found some cloth bags at a local discount store for a buck a piece. They have nice long handles that can be tied together, and are made of a fairly light cloth, so they're washable. I really don't care if they say they came from the first bank of whatever, because they're getting immediately stowed in a bike basket or in my car, so they won't be seen too much. If they get funked up, they go in the wash with the rest of my clothes. <br /><br />As for veggies...who cares? The meat - I'll ask for paper bags to wrap the meat, and then compost them. The only veggie that bugs me is onions, because the paper goes everywhere. I'll ask for paper on those as well. Most of the time I bag my own groceries, and if I don't, I'm a regular enough customer in my little Hamlet's shop that they know my peculiarities anyway. <br /><br />Oh yeah - I have a grading system at school where I need two manila folders per child (19 students), one for graded work, and one to-be-graded. The graded work folders get pretty large, and if I need to carry them home, they also go in a grocery bag.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00464331017299038485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-38696329231982914552011-04-10T18:11:04.610-04:002011-04-10T18:11:04.610-04:00drives me razy. I will say I don't buy a lot o...drives me razy. I will say I don't buy a lot of meat but when I do I place it right along with the groceries. Even whole foods does this and puts things like costmectics or small things in little paper bags. The meat is often from whole foods and paper wrapped so I don't worry about leakage. I do worry about leakage with groc store chicken and will use a bag for those but now that I have a CSA for meat I rarely buy it in either place and when I do- I go for whole foods just cuz.<br /><br />Checkers LOVE to double bag cleaning supplies too. I also hate double bags be it plastic or paper.<br /><br />I do need to give my bags a washing though and wonder how to recycle the ones that are a bit old and sad and needing to not be used for food etc....MamaVeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09519007680870604271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-49892995195722591262011-04-10T13:01:24.990-04:002011-04-10T13:01:24.990-04:00Oh please...the grocery checkers just don't ge...Oh please...the grocery checkers just don't get it. I do exactly what you do Velouria. The less we use the less we have to eventully reuse or throw away. I never reuse a bag that has meat in it, period. Everything else I will wash the bags.anniebikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09761205231523083781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27049433177195025172011-04-10T11:24:09.792-04:002011-04-10T11:24:09.792-04:00My grocery store provides scanners and plastic and...My grocery store provides scanners and plastic and reusable bags at the front door. You scan and bag as you shop, give the scanner to the cashier, pay and leave. I usually shop with my reusable bags slung over my arm (a la shopping in a market in France). <br /><br />The funny thing is that when I go to a store like Target and empty my reusable bag at the register so that the cashier can ring up my items I always have to stop him or her and remind them that I want them to put my items back into the bag they just came out of. The cashier often asks me really strange questions like "Will it all fit?" or "Is that going to be too heavy for you?" I have to remind him or her that I just finished walking around the store with the same items in the same bag, so there should not be any problems.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the city across the boarder from me recently enacted a plastic bag tariff ($0.05 per bag). It is so refreshing to shop there with my reusable bags because the cashiers expect it.Sunshinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-74362636901167198012011-04-09T15:34:09.996-04:002011-04-09T15:34:09.996-04:00I for one see no reason to use a reusable bag if y...I for one see no reason to use a reusable bag if you are going to first use a plastic bag. As long as the items are not leaking I have no issue putting everything in the reusable bag. I have been doing it this way for years and never once have I had issues with contamination nor has anyone gotten sick from eating the produce. Also it is common practice in my household to clean our raw foods before eating them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-73458431431465447962011-04-09T14:34:51.975-04:002011-04-09T14:34:51.975-04:00I have those bags too Veloria. http://www.reuseit....I have those bags too Veloria. http://www.reuseit.com/store/ecobags®-earthtone-cotton-string-with-hemp-stuffsack-p-163.html<br />I've been using them regularly for several years and they last and last. I use them for all my things, not just produce.<br /><br />My produce specific bags are these....<br />http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Cotton-Reusable-Mesh-Produce/dp/B002TK00RW<br /><br />I've found that one of the best sources for good, affordable, long lasting, heavy canvas shopping bags is the thirft store. <br /><br />I also like Chico Bags to keep in my purse for those unexpected stops at the store when I don't have my huge bag full of bags with me.<br />http://www.chicobag.com/p-16-chicobag-original.aspxMandGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05961629785452003493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-71526710329764275682011-04-09T12:12:57.478-04:002011-04-09T12:12:57.478-04:00Rebecita said...
"As for the pannier - I do f...<i>Rebecita said...<br />"As for the pannier - I do find that cashiers are more understanding of my desire for less packaging when they see an obvious bicycle container or helmet or something."</i><br /><br />That's a good point. It also occurred to me that my "faux wicker" Fastrider pannier looks like an old-timey grocery shopping bag, giving the cashier less cause to question it.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10813705410926130212011-04-09T11:01:29.325-04:002011-04-09T11:01:29.325-04:00I use canvas bags all the time. I always have one...I use canvas bags all the time. I always have one with me, which I use basically as a purse and carry to work and everything. That's a big help when I want to pick up a bottle of wine or a few small things. When I make a dedicated grocery shopping trip, I bring about six canvas bags with me. I throw in all the vegetables loose. The meat I have to wrap in one of those very thin plastic bags, because if I don't, the cashier will have to do it and then give me a nasty look. I think it is store policy due to the possibility of salmonella. <br /><br />Every now and then I throw the canvas bags in with the regular laundry, no big deal. Too many people are too worried about germs. The ridiculously wide spread use of antibiotics in America is making things worse. I've never taken an antibiotic, nor do I use antibacterial soap.Dottiehttp://letsgorideabike.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87553996118980275992011-04-09T08:44:04.505-04:002011-04-09T08:44:04.505-04:00"Doesn't research show that there more ba..."Doesn't research show that there more bacteria on our hands than in our underwear? : ) "<br /><br />Maybe you can solve any hand soreness by wrapping a tenderloin round the bars, should look really classy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3004532708746093302011-04-09T08:23:14.154-04:002011-04-09T08:23:14.154-04:00I gave up on trying to remember to wash and bring ...I gave up on trying to remember to wash and bring reusable bags to the grocer, and then have the cashier try to plastic bag everything before cloth bagging it. I just couldn't get it through their heads that I didn't need both. And at my store, it seems like they have trained the employees to bag every single item separately. So I surrendered. Besides, all of those plastic bags are great for scooping out the litter box.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08236210810344032312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-14366673970639206552011-04-09T08:18:32.865-04:002011-04-09T08:18:32.865-04:00I'm not an uber-germaphobe, but I do have a sm...I'm not an uber-germaphobe, but I do have a small child which means we all get sick more frequently now just because she goes to school, isn't as vigilant, etc. I usually bring my reusable bags in to SuperTarget (where I do most of my shopping) or Aldis (other main grocery place) because of the cost. Target gives you 5 cents per bag and Aldis does not give you free bags. I do bag meats with the thin baggies they provide if they are from the 'fresh' meat section, but not if it is from the frozen section. I bag produce only if it needs to be (like small roma tomatoes). It's mainly because if I didn't, the cashier cannot weigh 8 roma tomatoes on the digital devices if they are scattered all over and they may also fall thru my shopping cart. When I do receive plastic shopping bags from Target (if I've bought more than fits in my reuseable bags) then those bags are used for my kitchen trash. I haven't actually bought trash bags in years because I use shopping bags for them. We recycle a lot so our actual household trash is not great in quantity so a Target bag is often all we need and lasts us nearly all week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-49253917736761243672011-04-09T08:09:32.464-04:002011-04-09T08:09:32.464-04:00This made me laugh. I've lived in lots of cit...This made me laugh. I've lived in lots of cities and never had this problem at the checkout, except at one store, where it was sometimes a battle: Shaw's, Porter Square, Cambridge. Maybe there is something about the local culture? Or maybe the woman checking me out now works at your grocery store. :)Ninanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40866622655511587472011-04-09T07:15:11.255-04:002011-04-09T07:15:11.255-04:00"The one good thing about the reusable bags i..."The one good thing about the reusable bags is they fit perfectly in Wald folding baskets, and they have handles. "<br /><br />Yes! An absolute perfect fit. You'd think they were designed together. Plus, the reusable bags increase the capacity of the Walds by half. I buy the reusables with the foil liner and the cheap zippered top and snap the handles in the rat trap. Can get the groceries home in through a potholed war zone that way.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12289745556219478251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84297231568374014932011-04-09T06:28:07.699-04:002011-04-09T06:28:07.699-04:00I have seen studies that show the kitchen sink has...I have seen studies that show the kitchen sink has more bacteria than the toilet seat, but not the hands to underwear comparison.<br /><br />Stores I shop at all try to double bag the meat and cleaning supplies. I am OK with an occasional extra plastic bag. Because I have 2 dogs, they see double 'doody'.<br /><br />I just went grocery shopping at large chain store in Malaysia and the cashier asked me if I wanted plastic. I told her yes, and she informed me that it would be 20 cents. I said 'no thanks' and put everything in my back pack without any protest from her. She seemed far more concerned that I hadn't signed my Amex card than that I was putting un-bagged vegetables in the back pack.<br /><br />A word of caution about frozen fish . . . when they say thaw in the fridge, heed the warning. I did not and became very ill.<br /><br />It's astonishing how many comments this not exactly bicycle related post has generated.areveehttp://twitter.com/ransomvnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-29825662797077655342011-04-09T06:17:07.905-04:002011-04-09T06:17:07.905-04:00Doesn't research show that there more bacteria...Doesn't research show that there more bacteria on our hands than in our underwear? : )Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-11847725429925054802011-04-09T06:07:37.133-04:002011-04-09T06:07:37.133-04:00Yeah bacteria is good for you...next time carry th...Yeah bacteria is good for you...next time carry the sunday porkchops in the underware, that way you solve Mondays problem too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-91963170006783223782011-04-09T03:51:02.946-04:002011-04-09T03:51:02.946-04:00Velouria, I'm a 'separator', mainly be...Velouria, I'm a 'separator', mainly because I always have so many fruits and veggies that they warrant their own bag. Dairy and eggs get piled in haphazardly with meat in the 'things-destined-for-the-fridge' bag (with only poultry double wrapped), whilst bag #3 is for dry/canned edibles such as dry pulses, flour, spices, cereals etc. <br /><br />I never worry about bacteria (except for salmonella in poultry - which is why I very very rarely buy chicken, and then only free-range organic) and I don't think I've ever washed my cotton bags. Perhaps I ought to treat them to a wash this weekend! <br /><br />As for the inconvenience of carrying bags everywhere I go...well that's the blessing of organic cotton string bags like this one : http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/reusable-shopping-bags/coloured-reusable-string-bag-fairtrade-organic-cotton.html, which are so light and stowable that you hardly know you're carrying them. I keep a couple at the bottom of my bike basket and they're always there when I need them.Janehttp://situpnbeg.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31520428875739553972011-04-09T01:52:01.351-04:002011-04-09T01:52:01.351-04:00When I happen to be within biking range of a store...When I happen to be within biking range of a store, I just get paper bags, put 'em in the pannier baskets, and use 'em for recycling and garbage when I get home. They'll break down in the garbage eventually, unlike plastic, and they're totally recyclable as well. The ones with handles are really nice. If the meat leaks, well, that's a "garbage" bag then.<br /><br />Didn't like the reusables. I was always forgetting them. Now they tote soccer stuff around for the kids and such. Paper rules. I don't buy garbage bags, we throw the full bags out more frequently so the kitchen doesn't get stinky, and they're being reused. They fit perfectly in my pannier baskets, too.snarkypuphttp://rideblog.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15189784282032772222011-04-09T01:41:33.848-04:002011-04-09T01:41:33.848-04:00Oh gosh, the bacteria rumour was started by the pl...Oh gosh, the bacteria rumour was started by the plastic industry to try stop the banning of plastic bags that is happening all over. The only thing you should worry about is meat(if at all). I work in the food industry and the last thing you need to worry about is bacteria in your pannier from food touching each other. Food is grown, then it is picked, sorted, labelled, boxed, shipped, sent to distribution centres, put on trucks and sorted and displayed in stores. That's a lot of hands and potential mishaps. I've seen boxes of lettuce drenched in coffee. We're made of much stronger stuff than that and it's kind of rude for the cashier to try force bags on you and make you feel bad. I toss everything into my panniers. I work at an organicy grocery store and will either use a paper bag that the ginger, garlic type stuff came in to keep things together-and plastic if I need some at home. It all goes back to the recycling depot by bicycle anyway. I recommend using the paper bags in the mushroom section as the paper can be used for starting fires in woodstoves, cut up for scrap paper, composted or actually reused as lunch bags etc..<br />Wherever I shop, they ask first if you want paper or plastic or if you have a bag. I think clerks are used to people not using bags for their fruit/veg at least in my alternate west coast reality. Because we don't want to drag our panniers all over the store, my husband and I just put everything back in the basket, take it outside, load panniers and return the basket.<br />and any shop I go to gives you a little discount for bringing your own bags/not using bags.<br />Note: I do know people who WASH AND REUSE plastic bags-that's not a good idea however eco you think you are being. Heating up plastic creates gassing off of the toxins in plastic, and plastic degrades over time and the toxins will leach into food. Those reusable bags stores are handing out left and right are made of plastic but look kind of like cloth. Best thing is to have some cloth bags that you can rewash once in awhile. I have seen beautiful silk bags for fruits and veggies which could easily be made.Heathernoreply@blogger.com