@BunsenBurner
Here are the health concern links:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/reusable-shopping-bags-and-food-safety/#.Vy7wvmNvetA
The report, “Assessment of the Potential for Cross Contamination of Food Products by Reusable Shopping Bags,” offered the following policy recommendations for lawmakers, as well as tips for consumers who use reusable grocery bags including:
When using reusable bags, consumers should be careful to separate raw foods from other food products,
Consumers should not use reusable food bags for such other purposes as carrying books or gym clothes, and
Consumers should not store reusable bags in the trunks of cars because the higher temperature promotes growth of bacteria.
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Documents/fspnu04ReusableBags.pdf
This has about the same number of instructions as did the list stating how to safely clean up after a CFL broke - and dispersed it’s mercury into the air. ~X(
https://recipeland.com/news/reusable-grocery-bags-bad-for-e-154
The best case scenario is that consumers sterilize their reusable shopping with bleach and hot water after use which will kill nearly all bacteria that accumulate. Of course, this would pose environmental risks to the water table with more chlorine bleach entering the water table as it is rinsed down the drain.
The largest problem comes from cross-contamination. By re-using a bag without sanitizing it between uses, which the study found 97% of consumers do not do, foods are allowed to contaminate the bag which then cross-contaminates the next purchase.