Abstract: An article of manufacture for a universal push bar to create a hygienically safe shopping cart according to the present invention is disclosed. The universal push bar is made of a main push bar having a first end and a second end, a pair of support members having an upper end coupled to the main push, a first support member coupled about the first end of the main push bar and a second support member coupled about the second end of the main push bar, and a pair of claiming mechanisms coupled to each lower end of the pair of support members, the pair of claiming mechanisms having a pair of opposing claiming surfaces configured to attach the clamping mechanisms to a shopping cart handle.