4 things to take care of while shopping in a supermarket to avoid picking up germs

Take care of these things

Your nearby supermarket might look clean and well sanitised, but believe us, it is full of disease-causing germs and bacteria. Germs and bacteria hide in every nook and corner of your favourite grocery shop, which you may easily pick-up while buying essentials for your home. You may take all the necessary precautions from your side to protect yourself from the harmful pathogens, but sometimes unknowingly you are exposed to it. Here are four basic ways you can protect yourself while shopping in a grocery store.

​Careful with carts
The first thing you pick up in a grocery store is a shopping cart, which is one of the germiest things. The handles are touched by multiple people in a day. The pathogens from their hands are transferred to the handles, which is then picked by other people. A Spanish study revealed that around 50 per cent of the shopping cart and basket handles are contaminated by enterobacteria. So, the first thing to do before touching the cart is to wipe the handles with sanitising wipes.

​Freezer doors
The next in line is the freezer door where your favourite drinks and desserts are stored. The handles of a freezer door is a breeding ground of around 33,340 bacteria per square inch, claims a study. Moreover, germs multiply in this area rapidly. It is best to bring a sanitiser from your home and clean your hands after opening the freezer door or ensure than you do not touch your face or mouth after touching the doors.

​Frozen meat and food products
Before buying any packed food or meat, make sure it is cool and is not leaking. Germs enter the food when the package is torn and can make you sick easily. Make sure the package is properly sealed before putting it in your cart.

​Reusable carry bag
Your intentions behind using the same bag for grocery might be good, but you are unaware of the fact that your reusable carry bag is a breeding ground of bacteria. It is important to wash the bag with soap and water after each use, especially if you are keeping perishable items like milk or vegetables in it.

The next time you go to a grocery store be careful about these things, else you will be bringing home a plethora of germs with yourself. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Why you need to wash your fruit and vegetables with SOAP: Virologist confirms that COVID-19 can survive on fresh supermarket produce just like any other surface

A virologist has confirmed that 'every surface is a hazard' when it comes to COVID-19 and supermarket customers should be particularly mindful of the loose fruit and vegetables in the store.

Associate professor at the University of Sydney, Timothy Newsome, specialises in infection, vaccines and virology, so has been following along closely as the coronavirus restrictions heighten in Australia.

He told that while the virus can live on most surfaces, patrons doing their weekly grocery shop should be particularly wary of the fruit and veg aisle as customers are constantly picking up and placing back down items.

'We have to remember that every surface is potentially contaminated. And like with any surface there is a risk,' Mr Newsome explained.

'We don't see it as high risk because that comes from sustained contact with other people, but nonetheless it's important to be mindful.'

While it would be 'poor practice' to be testing 'every avocado for coronavirus', Mr Newsome did say anything people can touch poses a potential problem. 

'People working in the supermarkets should be picking all of the fruit and veg up and setting it back down with protection,' he said.

Luckily he noted a large proportion of shelf stackers and general workers wearing gloves and disinfecting their hands at every turn.

The best course of action is to wash your fruit and vegetables with soap as soon as you bring them home, not simply relying on the high heat of cooking them to 'kill' the virus.

'Wash them with warm soapy water, just as you do your hands,' he said. 

A Woolworths employee told she has seen a number of drastic measures enforced at her local store which are helping to keep the working environment safe.

'There is certainly social distancing at checkouts. So every second register is closed at the moment including self serve,' she said.

'We have gloves supplied to us, hand sanitiser as well. However it's currently a personal preference to wear gloves or not.'

She noted there were cleaners coming in to wipe down registers, screens and eftpos pinpads who walk around every 20 minutes to do their job.  

'It's very good for us. One less thing to worry about at this point,' she said.

While she doesn't work in the fruit and veg area, the employee thought nothing had changed in that area, however they may soon be incorporating special cleaning procedures.

Coles has similarly put social distancing practices in place and gives all workers access to hand sanitiser.

They have also started a 'community hour' in the morning to allow elderly patrons a chance to do their shopping before the larger community.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Coles and Woolworths to ask if any further safety procedures are to be implemented in stores. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement