What are the common misunderstandings about keeping reusable shopping bags clean?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Since Japan made plastic checkout bags chargeable in July 2020, reusable shopping bags (エコバッグ, eko baggu) have spread to almost every household. Many people, however, have never washed theirs. Because these bags carry fresh food, their hygiene is now flagged as a food-poisoning issue.
Points to weigh
| Item | Detail | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| How dirt travels | Drip from meat and fish, egg shells, soil on vegetables, leaked drinks → inside of the bag → next time's food | MHLW "Six points" (keep bacteria off food) |
| Separate bags | One bag for food, another for household goods (detergent, shoes, etc.). Meat and fish always go in a thin plastic bag (the free roll bags at the packing counter after the till) | As above |
| How often to wash | About once a week, or straight away when soiled. Follow the care label (Japan uses the international JIS L0001 symbols; nylon and polyester bags can usually go in the washing machine; insulated bags are hand-washed or wiped) | Makers' guidance |
| Drying | Never fold it away wet. Turn it inside out to dry | Mould and smell |
| Insulated bags | Wipe the aluminium lining with a disinfectant wipe or diluted detergent, then dry. Also wipe condensation from ice packs | — |
| When to replace | Dark stains inside, smell, fraying seams | — |
- Since checkout bags became chargeable in July 2020, about 80% of shoppers bring their own bag (Ministry of the Environment survey). Meanwhile, private surveys find that around half have "never washed" theirs.
- A US study (2010, University of Arizona and others; industry-funded, and its interpretation has been criticised) reported that bacteria were found in most reusable bags in use, and that washing removed almost all of them. In Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and others have issued hygiene advice too.
- An insulated bag left in a car boot gets very hot in summer, and bacteria multiply easily. Empty it and dry it as soon as you get home.
[Verify] Check the bring-your-own-bag rate against the Ministry of the Environment's survey on chargeable checkout bags, and the hygiene advice against materials from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Public Health and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Misunderstanding 1｜It is cloth, so it is clean
Used repeatedly with meat juices, soil and spills on it, the bag becomes a carrier of bacteria. Wash it once a week.
Misunderstanding 2｜Meat and fish are wrapped, so they can go straight in
Drip leaking through gaps in the film on the tray is normal. Always put them in a plastic bag first.
Misunderstanding 3｜One bag does for everything
Keep one bag for food and another for household goods. Avoid putting vegetables in a bag that has carried shoes or detergent.
Misunderstanding 4｜An insulated bag cannot be washed, so there is no need to wipe it
Wipe the inside with a disinfectant wipe and leave it open to dry. Pay special attention to the base, where condensation collects.
Misunderstanding 5｜Washing damages the bag
If you follow the label, it can be washed (nylon and polyester in the machine, in a laundry net). Not washing is a bigger problem than wear. Owning several and rotating them is the practical answer.
---
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), "Six points for preventing food poisoning at home" [家庭でできる食中毒予防の6つのポイント] (shopping and carrying food home)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/www1/houdou/0903/h0331-1.html
- Ministry of the Environment, "Survey on chargeable checkout bags (rate of bringing your own bag)" [レジ袋有料化に関する調査（マイバッグ持参率）]
https://plastics-smart.env.go.jp/rejibukuro-charge/
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Public Health, "Food Hygiene Window — points on shopping and storage" [食品衛生の窓 買い物・保存の注意]
https://www.hokeniryo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/shokuhin/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
Sources
Tell us if this has changed
Approved contributions keep the contributor's name, shown in five languages.
Related questions
Other languages：日本語 ／ 简体中文 ／ 繁體中文 ／ 한국어
Value Village is not a government body. Always confirm procedures on the official site.
Written by Value Village from public sources. Nothing here is reproduced from another site.