The Food Standards Agency in Wales is reminding consumers how they can avoid food contamination resulting from the re-use of plastic bags.
According to the information published by the Welsh Government, there has been a 96% reduction in the use of carrier bags in some retail sectors since charges for plastic bags were introduced in Wales in October 2011.
With more and more consumers reusing carrier bags, either for sustainability or as a result of charging, there are some important tips to help prevent bacteria spreading to ready-to-eat food.
The agency has advised that raw meat and fish should be kept separate from ready-to eat-foods, in separate bags. Re-useable bags should be disposed of if there's been any spillage of raw meat juices.
FSA in Wales food safety expert Rob Wilkins said that packing raw meat and fish with ready-to-eat foods can lead to cross-contamination, particularly if there are any spillages or leaks from the raw foods.
"While a carrier bag may look clean there is always the potential for cross-contamination of ready-to-eat foods. That's why it's a good idea to have separate, identifiable bags for raw and ready-to eat-foods," Wilkins added.
