breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,919 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Aug 5, 2019 16:40:14 GMT
I bought some reusable produce bags a few months ago and have been using them off and on (when I remember) for a few months. Apples, lemons, and dry fruits, not on anything that could get squashed and make a mess (like peaches). They don't need extra calibrating at checkout and no one has said anything about me using them. I was kind of proud of myself for using less plastic!
Then I read somewhere recently that due to cross contamination potential they are actually not allowed in my state or the grocery chain that I use.
Would you stop using them?
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Post by pierkiss on Aug 5, 2019 16:45:20 GMT
How is cross contamination a factor? Are they worried that people will put a carrot in a bag that had peanuts in it and then put it back on the shelf? Couldn’t that be a concern with all forms of bags?
I’d be inclined to continue using them, unless someone can fully explain the cross contamination fear.
And before anyone shouts at me, I am fully in favor of not purposefully hurting those with food allergies. I want them to be safe and secure in the knowledge that the food they are buying from the store is safe for them to eat.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,617
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 5, 2019 16:46:21 GMT
I would imagine the concern would be that people use them for meats and produce. One trip they use them for meat and then they use them for apples and the bacteria laden meat juice from the previous shopping trip gets on them, gives them food poisoning and they accuse the store of selling tainted meat (or apples.)
I guess I would stop using them - but I don't know what will happen if you do continue.
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Post by busy on Aug 5, 2019 16:49:24 GMT
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'd continue using them until someone at the store told me not to. No one else is using your bags; you're not putting anyone else at risk. Be cognizant of how you use them so you don't cross contaminate yourself and keep on keeping on. (I've used reusable bags like that for a long time and haven't died yet. I wash mine regularly and I also don't put meat in them - I don't see why anyone would do that; plastic bags can actually contain leaks, but the reusable product bags I'm familiar with are all very fine mesh, so they wouldn't serve a purpose with meats.)
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Post by myshelly on Aug 5, 2019 16:57:14 GMT
I don’t use any produce bags.
Why do apples, peaches, etc. need to be in a bag?
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 5, 2019 16:58:43 GMT
I don’t use produce bags at all. I just toss my fruit and vegetables in the cart and then on the belt. The only time I used bags is when I had a dog because then I could use them for when I took him on walks.
I would keep using your bags as long as no one says anything. Seems like a silly rule. You aren’t contaminating anyone except yourself.
In my state they are trying to make it legal to bring your own to go containers for deli food and bulk food that comes out of chutes. I hope it passes.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 20:26:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 17:03:29 GMT
I bought some reusable produce bags a few months ago and have been using them off and on (when I remember) for a few months. Apples, lemons, and dry fruits, not on anything that could get squashed and make a mess (like peaches). They don't need extra calibrating at checkout and no one has said anything about me using them. I was kind of proud of myself for using less plastic! Then I read somewhere recently that due to cross contamination potential they are actually not allowed in my state or the grocery chain that I use. Would you stop using them? can you cite a source? All I can find is reusing single use plastic bags is illegal. Not reusing cloth bags. I'd keep using them until someone at the store says you can't. |
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,932
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Post by naby64 on Aug 5, 2019 17:08:43 GMT
I just ordered some that will be delivered today. I will use them until I am told not to. Of course, the state I live in is so backward I highly doubt anything will be said.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,919
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Aug 5, 2019 17:12:59 GMT
I bought some reusable produce bags a few months ago and have been using them off and on (when I remember) for a few months. Apples, lemons, and dry fruits, not on anything that could get squashed and make a mess (like peaches). They don't need extra calibrating at checkout and no one has said anything about me using them. I was kind of proud of myself for using less plastic! Then I read somewhere recently that due to cross contamination potential they are actually not allowed in my state or the grocery chain that I use. Would you stop using them? can you cite a source? All I can find is reusing plastic bags is illegal. Not reusing cloth bags. I'd keep using them until someone at the store says you can't. From the store website: Due to weight of the container and cross contamination issues, WinCo Foods does not approve the use of consumer-owned containers brought into the store for refilling. This policy extends to all store departments and all food products with the exception of the refilling of water containers that are returned to the store for refilling with water. I haven't figured out where I read about it being illegal at the state level. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 5, 2019 17:16:00 GMT
Cantaloupe, lysteria? I keep them separate in a plastic bag. I also wash mine with soap, water and a brush. My bags have different colored tops, so easy to know what goes in what. IF I am shopping for meats, I might ave a plastic bag inside my 'carrying' bag.... One that can be washed.
I agree with not using hard reusable containers .. like for meals purchased, cooked foods etc..... That would require the serving utensils touching your container.... not so good... But produce, using MY bags!
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,159
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Post by lindas on Aug 5, 2019 17:28:43 GMT
can you cite a source? All I can find is reusing plastic bags is illegal. Not reusing cloth bags. I'd keep using them until someone at the store says you can't. From the store website: Due to weight of the container and cross contamination issues, WinCo Foods does not approve the use of consumer-owned containers brought into the store for refilling. This policy extends to all store departments and all food products with the exception of the refilling of water containers that are returned to the store for refilling with water. I haven't figured out where I read about it being illegal at the state level. That says containers, it doesn't say anything about reusable mesh bags. I would think the produce bags would be the same as bringing your own cloth bags for bagging groceries. I would continue to use them. |
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Post by marysue63 on Aug 5, 2019 17:37:07 GMT
I use reusable produce bags all the time at Winco and Ive never had anyone say anything to me. I'm going to continue to use them until they tell me to stop.
For those of you who said you don't use a bag, what do you use when you purchase multiple apples? Just put them individually on the belt at checkout?
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Post by myshelly on Aug 5, 2019 17:39:16 GMT
I use reusable produce bags all the time at Winco and Ive never had anyone say anything to me. I'm going to continue to use them until they tell me to stop. For those of you who said you don't use a bag, what do you use when you purchase multiple apples? Just put them individually on the belt at checkout? When I grocery shop I get a cart. I put 3 handheld baskets in the cart (one for produce, one for frozen/refrigerated items, and one for dry goods). When I get to the checkout I put the 3 baskets on the belt. Done. |
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Post by mustlovecats on Aug 5, 2019 17:40:52 GMT
I use reusable mesh produce bags weekly and see lots of people use them also. I do wash them every couple of weeks but just because I like to.
I have never heard we shouldn’t use them.
I like bundling like things together so not bagging produce wouldn’t really work for me.
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Post by ntsf on Aug 5, 2019 17:44:48 GMT
I use them and wash them all the time. our local music festival is going to reusable glasses.. you put the glass down, and they fill it...no touching. and we are allowed to bring our own containers to eating places for take out...
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,932
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Post by naby64 on Aug 5, 2019 17:46:35 GMT
I use reusable produce bags all the time at Winco and Ive never had anyone say anything to me. I'm going to continue to use them until they tell me to stop. For those of you who said you don't use a bag, what do you use when you purchase multiple apples? Just put them individually on the belt at checkout? When I grocery shop I get a cart. I put 3 handheld baskets in the cart (one for produce, one for frozen/refrigerated items, and one for dry goods). When I get to the checkout I put the 3 baskets on the belt. Done. Hmmm, hadn't thought of that. I just put everything in the cart and then sort them on the belt this way, to be bagged in with like items. Does the store say anything to you? I can imagine the looks I would get from my store cashier. Now with that said, here is town I only have Walmart and a chain grocery store. I use self checkouts at WM so I can bag more than one item in a bag and however I choose. I have GOT to get better on taking my bags in with me there. When I do my other shopping at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's(when I am around one) I have no problem remembering my bags. One more thing to add, I bought a cloth produce bag from TJ and I do like using that. I actually bought veggies yesterday and decided I was not going to put each individual type in a plastic bag. I put them all in that one produce bag. She took out all like items and weighted what needed to be weighed. She just set them aside to add back to that bag once she was done. |
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Post by myshelly on Aug 5, 2019 17:54:28 GMT
When I grocery shop I get a cart. I put 3 handheld baskets in the cart (one for produce, one for frozen/refrigerated items, and one for dry goods). When I get to the checkout I put the 3 baskets on the belt. Done. Hmmm, hadn't thought of that. I just put everything in the cart and then sort them on the belt this way, to be bagged in with like items. Does the store say anything to you? I can imagine the looks I would get from my store cashier. Now with that said, here is town I only have Walmart and a chain grocery store. I use self checkouts at WM so I can bag more than one item in a bag and however I choose. I have GOT to get better on taking my bags in with me there. When I do my other shopping at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's(when I am around one) I have no problem remembering my bags. One more thing to add, I bought a cloth produce bag from TJ and I do like using that. I actually bought veggies yesterday and decided I was not going to put each individual type in a plastic bag. I put them all in that one produce bag. She took out all like items and weighted what needed to be weighed. She just set them aside to add back to that bag once she was done. I have only gotten comments like, “wow, you’re so organized” or “do you have ocd?” A few younger cashiers have commented how ironic/stupid it is when people bring reusable bags, but put their produce in plastic bags and how I’m not a hypocrite for doing that. |
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Post by just PEAchy on Aug 5, 2019 18:51:31 GMT
I would continue to use them. I don’t see cross contamination as an issue. I use my mesh ones for thin skinned produce like peaches & tomatoes and for bulk produce like Brussels sprouts & snow peas. I don’t use them for meat. If I get meat from the cooler, I will use plastic bags, just seems gross to me otherwise. I try to buy most of my meat from the meat counter though, so it’s wrapped in paper. I wash my mesh bags after every use.
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Post by SnoopyFan on Aug 5, 2019 19:29:50 GMT
I use reusable produce bags all the time at Winco and Ive never had anyone say anything to me. I'm going to continue to use them until they tell me to stop. For those of you who said you don't use a bag, what do you use when you purchase multiple apples? Just put them individually on the belt at checkout? When I grocery shop I get a cart. I put 3 handheld baskets in the cart (one for produce, one for frozen/refrigerated items, and one for dry goods). When I get to the checkout I put the 3 baskets on the belt. Done. I thought you didn't go to the grocery store. I thought you hadn't been inside a grocery store in ages. At least that's what you said two days ago. |
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Post by myshelly on Aug 5, 2019 19:31:05 GMT
When I grocery shop I get a cart. I put 3 handheld baskets in the cart (one for produce, one for frozen/refrigerated items, and one for dry goods). When I get to the checkout I put the 3 baskets on the belt. Done. I thought you didn't go to the grocery store. I thought you hadn't been inside a grocery store in ages. At least that's what you said two days ago. Haven’t been back since I started doing pick up, that’s true. |
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Post by malibou on Aug 5, 2019 19:32:27 GMT
They will have to snatch my mesh produce bags from my hands if they want me to stop using them. And I will put up a a decent middle aged woman fight if they try.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 20:26:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 19:42:45 GMT
From the store website: Due to weight of the container and cross contamination issues, WinCo Foods does not approve the use of consumer-owned containers brought into the store for refilling. This policy extends to all store departments and all food products with the exception of the refilling of water containers that are returned to the store for refilling with water. I haven't figured out where I read about it being illegal at the state level. Thanks. To me "containers" makes some sense. No way to know what a bottle, jar or glad-ware bowl has had it it before coming to the store... motor oil, bleach, or any other liquid/non liquid. People put stuff in their jar then want to argue how much the jar weighs without the item and they can't dump it back into the bulk bin or where ever because it might contaminate the whole bin. Your bags are much lighter weight than someone else's containers so you aren't going to argue with the price per oz and how many ozs your glass mason quart jar weights. |
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Post by just PEAchy on Aug 5, 2019 19:55:05 GMT
I thought you didn't go to the grocery store. I thought you hadn't been inside a grocery store in ages. At least that's what you said two days ago. Haven’t been back since I started doing pick up, that’s true. Do they use plastic bags? They do here. That was one of the reasons I stopped doing pick up. If there was a way to use reusable bags or even paper bags, I’d go back to using pick up. |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Aug 5, 2019 19:56:55 GMT
can you cite a source? All I can find is reusing plastic bags is illegal. Not reusing cloth bags. I'd keep using them until someone at the store says you can't. From the store website: Due to weight of the container and cross contamination issues, WinCo Foods does not approve the use of consumer-owned containers brought into the store for refilling. This policy extends to all store departments and all food products with the exception of the refilling of water containers that are returned to the store for refilling with water. I haven't figured out where I read about it being illegal at the state level. That sounds like they mean please for the love of all things do not rinse out and ask us to reuse deli containers. |
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,919
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Aug 5, 2019 20:07:22 GMT
I found the article where it said produce bags weren't allowed (it was in the local paper). It includes all containers including mesh produce bags because of bacteria.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on Aug 5, 2019 20:10:18 GMT
I use reusable produce bags all the time at Winco and Ive never had anyone say anything to me. I'm going to continue to use them until they tell me to stop. For those of you who said you don't use a bag, what do you use when you purchase multiple apples? Just put them individually on the belt at checkout? When I grocery shop I get a cart. I put 3 handheld baskets in the cart (one for produce, one for frozen/refrigerated items, and one for dry goods). When I get to the checkout I put the 3 baskets on the belt. Done. Do you then put all items into reusable bags to carry them home? |
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Post by myshelly on Aug 5, 2019 20:18:01 GMT
When I grocery shop I get a cart. I put 3 handheld baskets in the cart (one for produce, one for frozen/refrigerated items, and one for dry goods). When I get to the checkout I put the 3 baskets on the belt. Done. Do you then put all items into reusable bags to carry them home? Yes. Well, I don’t, the cashier does. |
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 5, 2019 20:19:10 GMT
I use reusable mesh produce bags weekly and see lots of people use them also. I do wash them every couple of weeks but just because I like to. I have never heard we shouldn’t use them. I like bundling like things together so not bagging produce wouldn’t really work for me. Same here. |
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Post by littlemama on Aug 5, 2019 20:22:18 GMT
I only use bags for things that could get messy - Corn (because of the silk) or green onions, because they keep much better in a plastic bag. In general, I just put the fruits and vegetables in the cart and put them directly on the belt when I get to the register. I understand that the belt could be contaminated as well - I wash everything.
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Aug 5, 2019 20:47:18 GMT
I use them and wash them all the time. our local music festival is going to reusable glasses.. you put the glass down, and they fill it...no touching. and we are allowed to bring our own containers to eating places for take out... I love that idea!! We go to alot of concerts and many artistsand venues have taken to pouring drinks out of original containers into plastic cups. They refuse to refill the cups. So two beers during a show is 2 cans/bottles plus two plastic cups into the trash can. It makes me sad. I love the idea of bringing my own take out containers! I do that when I know we are going somewhere I am likely to have take out from. I have a son that doesn't like to go out to eat (with us lol) but he likes the food at several places we go. I usually just carry a container in, order his to be brought at the end, plated, and plop it in the container I brought. If I do end up with a restaurant container, I try to use it at least a couple times before it gets thrown away. I've asked quite a bit, but nowhere that I've found will take my own container to fill with take out.. So, I just ask it be presented plated. We do have coffee shops that will serve in our own cups. One makes it in their disposable and dumps it in the reusable cup (logoed/purchased from them!) then throws the disposable cup in the trash. I want to wring that lady's neck! |
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