There are plenty of reasons to avoid using disposable plastic bottles. With regard to the impact on the environment, every second 20,000 plastic bottles are bought in the world, a material that, in its conventional format, does not degrade and is difficult to recycle. Regarding health, “the reuse of disposable bottles entails the problem of the accumulation of bisphenol (endocrine disruptor) in our body,” explains Lluís Riera, an expert in food safety and director of the consultancy Saia.
The trend of reusable silicone, glass and metal bottles with beautiful colors and patterns plays a big role in reducing plastic in everyday life. These containers are made with the finest materials that help us preserve health and the environment.
Now, do not neglect its cleanliness. “The problem is that these reusable bottles do not solve the accumulation of microorganisms, typical of the mouth, hands or environment. If, on top of that, the water is stagnant inside the bottle for a long time, with the same humidity and temperature that it takes, we give these bacteria time to multiply”, explains Riera.
We can find many types of bacteria, “but we are mainly talking about enterobacteria (or fecal bacteria) such as Escherichia coli (pathogenic bacteria that can mainly cause diarrhea), Staphylococcus aureus (pathogenic bacteria that people, both healthy and not, can have in nostrils and on the skin) and others such as Pseudomonas or even fungi”, according to this specialist.
If we put some other more protein liquid in these reusable bottles, such as milk or even broth, since these substances have much more food for bacteria, bacterial growth can be much higher and more varied. “In these cases we could even get salmonella,” according to Riera.
“The recommendation to avoid this contamination is to minimize the time that the bottles are full, especially when it is hot.” If we have water left over at the end of the day, the best thing we can do is throw it away and let the bottle dry well.
Obviously, it is essential to clean it at least every two or three days in winter and daily in summer, and if it can be placed in the dishwasher, it is better, because the heat will ensure the disinfection of the containers. “We must be very careful if the stopper has rubber gaskets, and if we see that some fungus has grown or there is dirt; I would even recommend leaving it to soak for a while with bleach and, of course, rinsing it well afterwards”, explains Riera. The containers can also be washed by hand with soap, making sure that there are no traces of detergent.
We are talking about reusable water bottles, but we must remember that bacteria accumulate in many other utensils where we have stagnant water. “For example, in automatic coffee machines (sometimes for those who haven’t had much coffee in weeks), kettles to prepare infusions, where the water is continuously heated and cooled.”
Read the original RAC1 article here.
