IS IT UNHYGIENIC TO HAVE BABIES IN SHOPPING TROLLEYS? BOPA feature by Mothusi Galekhutle reporting from Serowe Scenes of children being driven around in food trolleys are seen in most of the stores all over. While that might look appealing to the children who normally enjoy the ride and the parents who would have been compelled to lift their children during the entire shopping, for some it begs the question whether it is hygienic or not. Sylvan Goldman, the owner of a supermarket in the USA is said to have invented food trolley or shopping cart in 1937 to carry food because he noticed that his shoppers had to struggle to carry their hand held shopping carts. However, the case is not the same for some shoppers who have now resorted to using food trolleys to drive around their children during their shopping sprees. In an interview, some of Batswana found nothing with carrying their children on food trolleys while some are against it. Ms. Keganegile Setlhare said there is no problem carrying a child and food in the food trolley provided the child is clean. Ms Setlhare said carrying a child in a trolley is convenient and safe as the child would not disturb other customers and would not break goods in the shop. Conversely, she noted that carrying a child in a food trolley could compromise the hygiene when the child is dirty as they leave grimy stuff that could later contaminate food. As a result, that could pose risks to other trolley users. For a win-win situation, she called for the introduction of dual purpose trolleys. Mr. Reuben Kgakge who called also for dual trolleys shared the same sentiments as Ms. Setlhare saying carrying a child on a food trolley is convenient. Meanwhile, Ms. Nono Mbure said carrying a child on a food trolley is unhygienic saying children are not allowed to sit on food utensils at home. “And why should it be different at the shops?” she asked rhetorically. Mr. Moagi Gareebine said most of the customers are compelled to put their children on food trolleys since there are no dual purpose trolleys. Boiteko Spar Supermaket branch manager in Serowe, Mr. Mothusi Kgwatalala said they have not experienced incidents where children are put on food trolleys since they have dual purpose trolleys. Meanwhile, chief environmental health technician for Serowe Administrative Authority (SAA) Ms. Tshoganetso Seronamong said they have noticed that children are put in food trolleys especially on month ends. She stated that the practice compromises food hygiene and that dirt that would be left on the trolleys would contaminate food as a result. Food susceptible to contamination, she said are unwrapped food such as fruits and vegetables. To curb the practice, she said shop managers are advised that food trolleys are meant for food but not other purposes. She further said there is need to strengthen health education through workshops to enlighten managers about food hygiene.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 04:12:05 +0000
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