Arkansas Lobbies for Cleaner Shopping Carts

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Gov. Mike Beebe was expected to sign into law a bill that encourages supermarkets to offer sanitary wipes to customers to use on shopping carts, according to published reports. Proposed by lawmaker Fred Allen, the Arkansas Health-Conscious Shopper Program is the first piece of legislation in the country that attempts to regulate the practice, without requiring food retailers to participate, the New York Times reported. While campaigning for office last fall, Allen said he heard from several older women who complained that potential contact with germs on shopping cart handles made them reluctant to go to supermarkets. The legislation is intended to "increase awareness of Arkansas shoppers, infants and young children about potential contamination from contact with a shopping cart handle," the Times reported.