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Nov 13, 2008 11:35 pm US/Eastern
Hidden Danger Of Shopping Carts
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Filthy shopping carts - new research says a trip to the grocery story could expose you to some potentially dangerous bacteria.
You could be getting more than just groceries the next time you grab a shopping cart. There's a lot more than the obvious gross stuff.
"I'll find candy wrappers or spilled sodas or pieces of fruit or vegetable," said Michelle Samuels.
Sounds harmless, but it's the bacteria you can't see that's potentially dangerous.
Here's what the microbiologist known as Dr. Germ found in his tests on shopping carts.
"Overall, slightly more than 60-70 percent of the carts had fecal bacteria on them, and usually hundreds of thousands of bacteria on the average shopping cart," said Chuck Gerba, Microbiologist.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the carts are also contaminated with bacteria form leaking packages of meat and poultry which can be especially dangerous to infants younger than 6 months.
"I really think about E. coli. I think about Salmonella," said Samuels.
Dr. Germ's tests showed shopping carts had more bacteria than public phones and restrooms.
"Probably because of the large number of people using it, the handling of raw food products. You're probably putting your broccoli right where some kid's bottom was," said Gerba.
Now some supermarkets are taking action. Some have installed sanitizing systems. This one is like a "push-through" cleaning machine.
"Every time a cart is collected, the intent is that it goes through our system and a fine mist is applied to the cart," said Jim Kratowicz, PureCart Systems.
The quicker, easier solution, many grocery stores now have those disposable sanitary wipes at the door.
"It makes me feel like at least on the cart, when I'm touching the cart, or my son is holding on to the cart, that it's at least cleaned off some of the germs," said Samuels.
A surprising number of infants are infected with salmonella from shopping carts according to research from the CDC.
Doctors say it's really important to keep them away from raw meat products. Many stores now have plastic baggies in the meat section for an extra layer of protection. Even if you do sanitize at the grocery store, it's probably a good idea to wash your hands as soon as you get home.
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