Many of us are taught some simple- and easy ways to stay hygienic as children. These are important habits that should stay with us into adulthood.
And during the Covid pandemic, these became even more important to avoid the risk of becoming ill.
Washing your hands after you use the toilet and before you eat are two such common rules.
Now an expert has warned of another rule that is vital when it comes to dodging potentially harmful bacteria and viruses when out and about.
Speaking on social media platform TikTok, gastroenterologist Doctor Saurabh Sethi said: “Stop using a shopping cart like this, especially during the cold flu season.
“The risk is low, but yes, it is possible to pass an infection from a shopping cart.”
He urged people to wipe the handle of their shopping trolley before getting started using a disinfecting wipe.
“Let me tell you how dirty a shopping cart actually is.” he said.
“A study from the University of Arizona showed that over 75 percent of shopping carts were positive for faecal bacteria.
“The study also showed that shopping carts were even dirtier than a public restroom.”
He also recommended washing your hands after shopping.
“Now, the best way to lower the risk of infection is to use a disinfecting wipe on the shopping cart handles,” Dr Sethi said.
“Make sure to wash your hands after shopping, especially if you’re shopping with little kids whose immunity may not be as strong as yours.”
The study referenced by Dr Sethi actually found that 72 percent of shopping carts tested carried faecal matter.
Perhaps even more worrying was the fact that 51 percent of these tested positive for E.coli.
Symptoms of an E.coli infection can include:
- Diarrhoea – this is often watery and sometimes bloody.
- Stomach pains and cramps
- Loss of appetite
- Low fever.
