If Reusable Grocery Bag Makes You Sick, It's Probably Your Fault

When researchers in Oregon finally blamed a norovirus outbreak on a reusable grocery bag, shoppers across the country might have stopped to rethink their habits. After all, doctors say that reusable bags can be a great source for germs.

Wegmans would prefer that shoppers keep an open mind -- and that they keep washing their reusable bags.

"It would be really unfortunate if this story turned people away from reusable bags, because there is such an ecological benefit," says Jeanne Colleluori, a spokesperson for Wegmans.

Now, Wegmans isn't blaming shoppers, nor is the company seeking to lecture anyone. The message is simple, according to Colleluori: "We want to give people options. And we're finding that many, many of our shoppers appreciate the option of reusable bags."

How many? Consider that since 2007 (when Wegmans introduced reusable grocery bags), the store has been able to eliminate the use of 5,000 disposable plastic bags per store, per day. That's nearly half a million disposable bags saved each day.

But stories like the one from Oregon make some shoppers nervous. Hyperbolic headlines don't help, either. The Houston Chronicle blared, "Your reusable grocery bags are gross." The problem is, that's not necessarily true.