Tuesday, February 8, 2005
By JEAN ENERSEN / KING 5 News
Ever wonder how risky it is to be munching on grapes in the produce aisle? And what about everything else you touch, including the handles on those grocery carts? Here’s a closer look at some dirty shopping secrets.
Ten times out of 10, there are germs on a shopping cart. It may look clean, but there really is no telling how many children have been in it or how many birds have claimed it.
And what about all that produce, which may be every bit as dirty?
One news crew went into several grocery stores to pick up a few things that are out in the open, like fruits and vegetables. Next they swabbed a number of carts, inside and out, where you put your hands, where your kids sit and touch.


A day later, the unappetizing results came back. Nothing was dangerous but there was quite a lot of bacteria on the fruits and vegetables.
One cucumber contained bacteria from the same family as salmonella and shigella.
Dr. Yvette McCarter, of Shands said: “I’m one of those bad people. I’ll eat the grapes right out of the bag but I think I’ll be washing them right now.”
The apple had the least amount of bacteria, while the blueberries and grapes had the most.
The solution:wash your hands and wash what you buy. One mom decided to stay ahead of the game by killing the germs with baby wipes.
More and more local grocery stores are starting to make anti-bacterial wipes available. Look for them in the area where the carts are kept.