A reader wrote to us via WhatsApp:

I work for a company in Bolesławiec under sterile conditions, and I am thoroughly familiar with GMP [Dobrej Praktyki Produkcyjnej] principles in pharmaceutical hygiene. I am also a customer of most of Bolesławiec’s supermarkets. I am very curious whether these supermarkets disinfect the handles of shopping carts. The question does not come out of nowhere: I simply saw a German woman who appeared to have a cold returning a cart—although I do not know whether it was only a cold. What was left on the cart is also a mystery. What do the supermarkets do about this?

On Thursday, March 5, we wrote to all the major supermarket and discount chains with stores in Bolesławiec. So far, only Biedronka and Lidl have responded.

Paweł Franczak, senior corporate communications specialist at Biedronka:

Shopping baskets and carts in Biedronka stores are cleaned by professional companies. During the process, all contaminants are removed using disinfectant, and the carts and baskets undergo steam treatment at a temperature of 84°C. These activities are carried out several times a year, depending on the specific store location; however, in the current situation, we are treating regular inspections and cleaning of carts as a particular priority.

Aleksandra Robaszkiewicz, Head of Corporate Communications, Lidl Polska:

We would like to inform you that we strive to ensure that shopping in Lidl Polska stores is always a comfortable and friendly experience. Maintaining cleanliness is one of the fundamental elements that contributes to this and to customer satisfaction.

Store employees are trained in cleanliness procedures and understand that this is a particularly important part of serving customers every day. We provide them with detailed information about cleanliness during training sessions and in training materials. All Lidl Polska stores are covered by so-called cleaning schedules, which specify on which days of the week the fixed store fixtures and equipment are cleaned. Every day before the store opens, the entire sales floor is tidied. During store hours, additional cleaning is carried out whenever necessary. At the end of the day, employees clean the checkout area and sales floor. We pay particular attention to fresh-goods areas, where fruit, vegetables, baked goods and refrigerated products are displayed. Our stores have professional cleaning equipment, including a floor-washing machine (hako), mops and specialist cleaning liquids. In addition, we use external cleaning companies, which carry out a thorough overnight cleaning of the store several times a year, including the shopping carts.

With reference to the [...] question, we would like to inform you that carts in Lidl stores are washed regularly and additionally whenever they become dirty. Their cleaning is governed by internal procedures. Carts are washed by specialized companies equipped with appropriate products. During its standard inspections, the Sanitary Inspectorate also checks the cleanliness of our carts, and the results are good.

What do you think? We invite you to discuss this.