“Dirtier than a toilet seat”: Cardiologist reveals shopping cart can expose you to serious infections and health risks

Using a shopping cart in supermarkets is a no-brainer for many, and for those with children, the cart becomes more than a convenience. It is considered to be a safe option. But behind this convenience and “harmless” looking habit, lies the risk of exposure to a number of infections. Recently, double-board certified doctor Kunal Sood (@doctorsood) shared a video on Instagram, where he shed light on the very same risk of using a shopping cart. Dr Kunal notes that it is possible to pass infection from a shopping cart. He mentions a study from the University of Arizona, titled “Bacterial Contamination of Shopping Carts and Approaches to Control”. The study sampled 85 shopping carts from the parking lots of random grocery stores in some US cities. These cities were selected to represent varying regions and outdoor climates. The researchers noted that the practice of leaving shopping carts outdoors, say in front of the store or in parking lots, may affect the survival of bacteria on their surfaces. The study found that the shopping carts had a common occurrence of coliform and E. coli bacteria, which indicates that the consumer is exposed to enteric bacteria on a regular basis when using grocery shopping carts. The most shocking finding was that the total bacterial levels are far greater than those found in public restrooms and other public places and objects that are commonly touched in these environments. On the shopping cart handles, coliforms and E. coli also appear to be present in greater numbers. Dr. Kunal Sood says that the best way to lower the risk of infection is to use a disinfectant wipe on the shopping cart handles.