Peace, Love, and Bum-Bum Germs.

Why is it that my hands feel exponentially more filthy after shopping at Trader Joe's than after I grocery shop at any other place?

After blowing a cool hundred U.S. American dollars at TJ's, I got in my car and could not use enough hand sani. And then I raced home, not to dive into the new channa masala I bought, but to vigorously wash my hands thrice.

OK just kidding--I raced home to dive into the channa masala.

And the spicy spinach pizza. And the fresh strawberries and blackberries. And the veggie chips. And the lime chili cashews. And the watermelon FruityFlakes. And the sushi rolls. And the Purple Moon Shiraz.

But ALSO to wash my hands. Because seriously, my hands felt hot and squirmy with the bum-bum germs of 10 million hippies.

Fair-trade dark chocolate on a hot tin slide.

Good thing I also bought delicious lemon hand-soap at Trader Joe's. I went through about 1/4 of it.

Before diving into my channa masala. Braaaaaap.

Fun Friendly Phobic Fact Friday!

Next time you are out shopping, please ignore the stinkeye of other, more granola shoppers* and put your child in one of these:

* I once had a brazen elderly gent at Trader Joe's tell me I was doing a great disservice to my gnawing infant 's immune system by protecting her from shopping cart germs. I wanted to tell him, "OK buster, let's see YOU fucking lick this shopping cart handle, you rat bastaaaad."

I mean CUB OD. (PS: Steve Carrell, is that you?)

FACT: Dr. Charles Gerba, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned environmental microbiologist and is also known much to my amusement as Dr. Germ. Here are his thoughts on the matter.

"Those covers made for the seat area of the shopping cart were created for good reason: 'We find more E. coli on shopping carts than on toilet seats,' Dr. Gerba says. 'In addition to germs from food [and grubby grubby hands], children’s dirty bottoms are going in the seat—and the carts are hardly ever cleaned.' " 

Bum-bums galore, I tell you!

He continues--

"The checkout screens where you swipe your credit or ATM card aren’t great, either. In some grocery stores, up to 80% have E. coli on them—likely picked up from people handling leaky meat packages and unwashed produce, then touching the screen. Another germy spot: Your reusable grocery bag. Yes, you’re being environmentally conscious, but bacteria from meat and produce from your last trip are probably still in there. 'Only 3% of people surveyed say they have ever washed their totes, and half use them for carrying other things, like dirty clothes,' Dr. Gerba says. 'That’s like hauling your groceries home in your dirty underwear.'"

Sorry, Bob. Sorry, Larry.

Grocery cart covers serve a purpose! Use yours with pride!
And screw those old crotchety men who try to tell you otherwise!