Avoid germs with these helpful shopping tips
As you wheel your grocery cart through aisles of meat, produce, dairy products and, of course, bare shelves where there ought to be disinfecting products and toilet paper, coronavirus pathogens shouldn’t be the only germs you’re worried about.
Grocery carts, including the handles you use to push them, are teeming with saliva, mucus, urine and fecal matter along with bloody juices from raw meat, according to a University of Arizona study.
In fact, their research showed that grocery store carts are one of the nastiest things you touch can all day — worse than public restrooms — and harbor E. coli, staphylococcus, salmonella and influenza germs.
So as we all try to protect ourselves from the novel coronavirus or COVID-19, try taking these precautions suggested by H-E-B and Walmart, both of which say they’re amping up cleaning and sanitizing work in their stores.
1. If your grocery store has a bin of sanitizing wipes near the front door, grab a couple and wipe down the cart handle that you’ll be pushing. If you’re planning to sit a toddler in the child seat, give it an extra wipe and consider bringing your own towel for the child to sit on.
2. As a precaution, consider taking your own sanitizing wipes, just in case the store doesn’t have any or has run out. If you can’t find any — DIY them by soaking paper towels in disinfectant and store them in plastic resealable bags so you’ll have them when you need them, wherever you are.
3. Touch as few things as possible while shopping. Don’t pick up three bunches of celery before you decide which one you want. Pick one and go — it’s better for you and it’s considerate to everyone else shopping, too. And please don’t sneeze into your hands or touch your mouth while you’re touching products.
4. For the things you do pick up, latex or surgical gloves can protect you. They’ll get contaminated, though, so you may want to take them off or change them when it’s time to pay or when you leave. Be sure to throw them in a trash can — do not drop them in your handbag or stick them in your pocket. After they’re used, consider them contaminated and dispose of them properly.
5. When you pay, consider using plastic — either a debit or credit card. Paper money is always covered in bacteria, so don’t give yours to anyone and don’t let anyone else’s end up in your wallet.
6. Lisa Helfman, public affairs director at H-E-B Houston, said that all H-E-B, Joe V’s and Mi Tienda stores have stopped instore product sampling — so no more free crackers and cheese. If anyone else is still doing that, a simple “no thank you” is your best option.
7. Many stores have offered online shopping with local pickup or delivery, and this might be good time to try it. For now, H-E-B is eliminating its touchscreen acknowledgment and offering a leave-at-the-door option for customers (not including tobacco or alcohol). They’re also delivering pharmacy orders for free.
8. When you’re finished and back in your car, use wipes and/ or hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
9. Finally, if you aren’t feeling well or you are sick, shop online and stay away from others.