A Microbiological Study of Reusable Bags and `First or single-use’ Plastic Bags

The use of reusable food containers and carry devices for groceries is an important, to date
overlooked piece in the study of the safety of the food supply in Canada. There has been little to
no testing to investigate the risk reusables pose or do not pose to public health, yet increasingly
reusables are being advanced as a viable substitute for first-use or single use packaging/
containers. The food service sector has been particularly concerned about the use of reusables.
Environmentalists and some governments see the use of reusables and the elimination/reduction
of first use containers as a way to reduce solid waste at source. A number of public policy
initiatives have emerged over the past couple of years including voluntary reduction programs
and fees on plastic shopping bags to force consumers to switch to reusable bags. And last fall, the
City of Toronto as part of its in-store packaging reduction program began to actively promote the
use of reusable containers. (The city hopes to enact a 20-cent rebate for reusable coffee cups and
has just initiated a by-law mandating fees on first-use plastic shopping bags.)