The decision between paper and plastic has recently began to include the choice of reusable, a $1 option many people are willing to take in order to reduce their impact on the environment.
But reusable grocery bags, made to be used multiple times for shopping, may not be as healthy or environmentally friendly as people once thought.
“The Tampa Tribune” recently investigated and tested reusable grocery bags sold at Wal-Mart, Target and East Coast grocery chains. This investigation spurred the Food and Drug Administration to launch its own investigation into reusable bags.
The testers found unsafe levels of lead in reusable grocery bags that were manufactured in China and sold at Wal-Mart, Target and the East Coast grocery chains Winn-Dixie, Publix and Sweetbay. Lead is found in laminated reusable bags with large print or images to make colors more vibrant.
Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems in children younger than 6 years old and adults who are regularly exposed to high levels of lead. Lead poisoning in children can cause behavioral problems, damage to the brain and nervous system, hearing problems, headaches and slowed growth. Lead poisoning in adults can cause reproductive problems, high blood pressure, hypertension, nerve disorders, memory problems, and muscle and joint pain.
While the recent study did not show any indication of an immediate health threat to the public, lead in reusable bags could possibly contaminate the food products kept inside them and leach into landfills once a consumer disposes of the bag. The researchers found that in the long-term, the lead from reusable grocery bags could seep into groundwater after disposal and, over time, paint from the bag could flake off and come into contact with food.
Wal-Mart and Target have not recalled their reusable bags and recently released statements to dispel any health concerns.
Wal-Mart tested its bags did not find levels as high as the Tribune’s test and the company plans on selling more basic and plain versions of its bag. Target also remained confident in its testing methods. In response to the Tribune’s story, Safeway re-tested all its reusable bags and found them to be lead-free.
Reusable grocery bags are a popular alternative to using plastic and paper bags, and some cities are considering outright banning one-use bags. While the City of Eugene is not considering a ban on plastic bags, the City of Portland is. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., and other U.S. cities, consumers who use plastic bags are charged extra when they don’t bring their reusable grocery bags.
This would be a good option instead of banning plastic bags entirely, University junior Yufei Chen said.
“I think it’s a good idea to pay for it,” she said.
U. Oregon junior Elizabeth Shepard said she uses plastic bags at home as garbage bags.
“You can use those bags at home for other things,” she said. “Banning them isn’t a good idea.”
Other U. Oregon students said they had a hard time remembering to bring their reusable bags with them when grocery shopping.
“I never have them with me to use them,” senior Sarah Kanthack said.
Consumers should also focus on bacteria, which can form on the bottom of reusable grocery bags, when considering their health. Health experts recommend that consumers regularly wash their reusable grocery bags to prevent the formation of bacteria and E. coli. However, the catch is that washing reusable grocery bags uses energy and water, making them less environmentally friendly than their original purpose.