Credits: Social Media
Doctor issues stark warning to people using grocery shopping carts without cleaning them
Did you know that the bacterial levels on the handles of shopping carts at grocery stores are far greater than those found in public restrooms? Shoppers are routinely exposed to coliform and even E. Coli bacteria on shopping carts, according to a research paper from 2012. This is corroborated by TikToks Dr Max, whose commentary on a womans claim that she caught hand, foot, and mouth disease from a shopping cart contains some stark warnings.
However you feel about the prospect of packing your own bags at the grocery store checkout, or the affordability of Erewhon, America’s most expensive grocer’s, you probably dont expect to come away from your Big Shop with an infectious disease. Pack your sterilizing hand spray �gloves will do �because youre in for a ride.
TikToker claims to have contracted foot and mouth disease from a grocery store shopping cart
Is this real? Absolutely, says Dr Max, in his commentary on another users TikTok upload.
In the original video, a woman shows a picture of her young child in a grocery store shopping cart. The caption overlaid reads: Puts baby in the shopping cart for the first time.
What follows are a series of photos apparently showing the user in question with nasty rashes on both sides of her hands, and around her mouth and nose.
The caption reads: Gets a horrible case of hand foot and mouth.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (also written hand-foot-and-mouth disease) is a mild, contagious, viral infection common in young children. Adults can get it too. Symptoms include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet, as the name suggests.
There isnt a specific treatment, but frequent hand-washing and avoiding close contact with people who have it may help lower someones chances of getting it, according to Mayo Clinic.
Dr Max flags research that shows shopping carts are laden with potentially infectious bacteria
You wouldnt believe how filthy shopping carts can be, he says in his commentary video. He draws his followers attention to a 2012 study by the University of Arizona.
The study states that placing children in grocery shopping carts can lead to infection with Salmonella and Campylobacter. Its authors studied the handles and seats of 85 shopping carts across the US. They found coliform bacteria on 72% of the surfaces and E. coli on more than half of them.
Coliforms and E. coli also appear to be present in greater numbers on shopping cart handles than on other common surfaces with which consumers may come into contact, they write. Such surfaces include those in public restrooms.
In contrast, coliforms were found on just 7% of studied diaper-changing tables, chair armrests, playground equipment, ATM buttons, escalators, and restaurant condiment dispensers.
Its worth pointing out that not all coliform bacteria are harmful to humans. But they are most commonly found in the feces (poop) of warm-blooded animals, such as humans. Their presence in drinking water is a potential indicator that disease-causing organisms could be in the water system. So, not necessarily bad, but not good either.
Keep it in mind next time, Dr Max says. Clean it, clean it, clean it.
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