Reusable Grocery Bag Study: Can You Trust the Source?
These findings seem rather sensational to me, as I have used cloth grocery bags for years without a single health incident in my family.
Perhaps it is the source of this study that makes it difficult for me to believe reusable grocery bags are dangerous. After all, the motives of the study's sponsor, the Canadian Plastic Industry are overtly transparent - they want to sell plastics. In fact, public safety is never mentioned as a goal on EPIC's website.
The site highlights the following as the committee's key objectives: "Avoid de-selection, bans, fees and taxes on plastics; Develop and advocate actions and policy positions on issues; Promote plastics contributions to sustainability; Promote the economic, environmental and social benefits of plastics."
Clearly, EPIC's priorities are intertwined with plastic sales. With that in mind, can EPIC really be considered a reliable source on the safety of reusable grocery bags, which are a primary alternative to plastic bags?
According to SourceWatch, "Outside funding can corrupt the integrity of academic institutions...Think tanks are like universities minus the systems of peer review and other mechanisms that academia uses to produce diversity of thought. Real academics are expected to conduct their research first and draw their conclusions second, but this process is often reversed at most policy driven think tanks."
I truly cannot say if I believe the Canadian Plastics Industry drew their conclusions first - that reusable grocery bag are dangerous - before sponsoring a study. I will say that I question EPIC's motives behind this study because the results could serve to boost plastic sales.
One thing is certain, plastic bags have been under attack in Canada. According to the Calgary Herald, "Bans on single-use plastic bags are being adopted or considered by a growing number of municipalities. More retailers, including major grocery chains, have begun charging fees (usually a nickel) for single use bags and selling reusable bags to reduce the amount of plastic discarded."
China and Australia have already passed bans plastic bags. Three major cities, San Francisco, London, and Paris have passed similar bans and other cities, Seattle, Portland, and Phoenix are considering bans on plastic bags.
I personally plan to uphold our family's ban on throw-aways; despite what the Canadian Plastic Industry has to say, I believe reusable grocery bags are absolutely safe.
"Australia to act on plastic bags." BBC NEWS
Bill Mah. "Soiled, reusable shopping bags pose health risk: Plastic industry." Calgary Herald.
"China Bans Plastic Shopping Bags." cbcnews.ca.
David Gorn. "San Francisco Plastic Bag Ban Interests Other Cities." NPR.
"EPIC member value proposition." EPIC.
Karen Hawthorne. "Back to Plastics: Reusable Grocery Bags May Cause Food Poisoning." The Appetizer.
"Think Tanks." SOURCEWATCH.
Published by Lynn Malone
I am a Parent, Educator, and Vagabond who loves libraries, d.i.y. culture, discovering hidden gems in San Diego, and geeking out on topics such as parenting, green living, and finance. View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentI work at a major grocery retailer and reusable bags are a nightmare. They come into the store covered in dog and cat hair, and covered in filth. One of our cashiers started to bag a customer's groceries and there was a used disposable diaper in one of them.
The fact is that people use whatever bags they can find. We have one man we call the "Dirty bag man" because his bags are filthy and smell like mildew. They are old tire chain bags. We are not allowed to reject the bags or say anything about their cleanliness. Other bags come in with spills and stains. We have to hold our noses and try not to get sick.
One of our cashiers had an asthma attack after handling smelly bags covered in dog hair.
These bags only sound like a good idea to those who don't have to work with them. Reusable bags are a health hazard which will rear its ugly head in the future; but all the politicians care about is to show that care and they are doing something so they can buy votes.