I am always finding new things to be paranoid about. It's not that I'm looking for more things to be weird about it's just that things come up in conversations, then I start thinking about it, and usually it leads me to be more clean or more cautious depending on the conversation. Take this for example...
About a week ago Billy Brown and I were talking at the dinner table (don't worry Heather was there too) and we got in a conversation about a study that he had read, something about the places that the highest levels of bacteria were found. At the top of the list were grocery cart handles and restaurant menus. I new about the menus because I have worked in restaurants and I know that they are never cleaned, and if they do get wiped down it's with the same rags that they wipe down the high chairs and tables with. I NEVER let my menu touch my silverware, and I never let my silverware touch the table. Oh the things you learn working in a restaurant... anyways back to the topic.
So grocery cart handles... he was telling me about all these disgusting germs and bacteria that they found on the handle. I looked up a study online and here are a few of what they listed: "blood, mucus, saliva, urine, staphylococcus aureus, enteroccocus facaelis (fecal matter), streptococcus pneumoniae, E. coli (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), caused by the E. coli 0157:H7 virus), Rota Virus, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and even hepatitis B" (http://www.shoppingcartcoverstore.com/bacteriagermsoncarts.html). Pretty gross huh?????
I've always known that the handles had to be filthy dirty but I never thought it would be that bad! I always carry those sanitary wipes with me and after I am done shopping I always clean my hands off but Friday I was in Safeway and a thought occurred to me that almost made me throw up right there in the produce section. Here's what happens: your hands touch the cart handle and then your hands touch your vegetables, your fruit, etc!!!!! I have always washed my veggies and fruit before eating them but after Friday I will be scrubbing my veggies and fruit clean. Who wants to serve a salad with a side of fecal matter and E. Coli?!? UM GROSS!!!!!
Now that I have ruined your day and totally grossed you out I just want to say that you might want to think about getting the plastic produce bags, opening them, and then grabbing your veggies and fruit with those instead of actually touching them with your hands. Just a thought. When you bump into me at the grocery store you better believe that that is what I'm going to be doing. I may look silly but at least I won't be the one eating someone else's poop!
I'm glad I could contribute to your paranoia, but the poopsteak is about the sickest thing I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteOh, Anna. You better stop investigating how dirty the world is, you won't be able to handle it. There are really disgusting, dirty things in so so many places that you don't even think about. Once you start thinking about it, you won't be able to stop.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is your body is made to fight all the bacteria and germs that you come in contact with.
How do you even find poop steak pictures??! You are a riot.
Nasty Anna, that poopy steak made me gag. And I've seen alot of poop lately. Little people poop that is.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the icky shopping carts until I had a baby. Now I'm REALLY glad I use those little shopping cart covers when he sits in them. I didn't know it was that bad.
ReplyDeleteAnna, that picture of the poop on the meat is so gross...I was eating lunch when I read your blog and almost let it go!
ReplyDeleteI'm actually kind of surprised that you didn't know about that already! One thing that I like to do is to just wipe the handle down before I even touch it...and voila...clean veggies! And safeway is ahead of the game by already providing the wipes for you!
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny! I have the same paranoia, Dan always makes fun of me, but wait until you have kids then it becomes worse! And that picture of the meant with the poop, have you seen Fast Food Nation? Oh my word Dan and I have not eaten beef since we saw it 2 weeks ago, lets just say your picture is very close to what the movie speculates!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Anna. I always carry wipes and hand sanitizer with me. Great pic of the steak, GROSS!!!!
ReplyDeleteanna.. i love these blogs.. we live in such a dirty world and you are such a clean person:) it's hilarious! I know that at safeway (and I think raley's too) they have anti-bacterial hand wipes right as you walk in the door, so you can wipe off your cart:) pretty smart, eh? Also... you should get VeggieWash. It's this great product that you just spray on your produce, give it a little scrub and then rinse. It's all natural and is just a better way to make sure there is no poop on your produce! :)
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