Ziploc Bag Class Action Lawsuit Claims Microwavable Bags Release Dangerous Levels of Microplastics

Ziploc Bag Class Action Lawsuit Claims Microwavable Bags Release Dangerous Levels of Microplastics

A California woman has filed a class action lawsuit alleging that certain Ziploc bags are made with polyethylene and polypropylene, which can release dangerous microplastics under extreme temperatures, such as those found in microwave ovens and freezers.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Linda Cheslow in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on April 25, naming S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. as the sole defendant.

S.C. Johnson has owned the Ziploc brand of plastic bags since 1998, when it acquired DowBrands. Ziploc bags are reclosable storage bags, typically made from polyethylene, which is a common type of food-grade plastic. However, polyethylene has been known to leach chemicals and microplastics under certain circumstances, including stress and heat.

Microplastics are small fragments of plastic, under 5 millimeters in length. In recent years, they have been found throughout people’s bodies, including human testicles and human brains. They are known to affect the endocrine system and interfere with the gut microbiome, also damaging DNA, which can lead to various other illnesses, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

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According to Cheslow’s lawsuit, Ziploc bags are marketed as “microwave safe” and “suitable for freezer use,” which prompted her to purchase them sometime in 2024.

However, since the bags are made from polyethylene and polypropylene, neither of these claims are factual, Cheslow says, claiming that the plastic materials can break down under microwave heat, while freezing the bags causes undue stress to the plastic. In both instances microplastics could then be released by the bags, the complaint points out.

As a result of these occurrences, Cheslow indicates that she and other individuals have exposed themselves and their families to undisclosed amounts of microplastics by using Ziploc bags merely as they are advertised by the manufacturer.

In her complaint, Cheslow mentions a handful of Ziploc products by name, including:

  • Ziploc Freezer Bags Pint/Small, Freezer Bags Quart/Medium and Freezer Bags Gallon/Large
  • Ziploc Slider Freezer Bags Quart/Medium
  • Ziploc Slider Freezer Gallon/Large Bags
  • Ziploc Slider Storage Bags Quart/Medium
  • Ziploc Slider Storage Bags Gallon/Large
  • Ziploc Containers

“Defendant affirmatively represents that the Products are ‘Microwave Safe,’ and/or fit for the ‘Freezer,’ leading consumers to believe they are fit to be microwaved and frozen without risk of microplastics leaching into their food,” the lawsuit states. “At the same time, Defendant omits material information that the Products release microplastics when microwaved and frozen as intended, directed and instructed.”

Cheslow raises allegations of violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act, as well as unjust enrichment.

She is seeking certification of class action status for her lawsuit, including a subclass for California residents, as well as declaratory relief, injunction, damages, restitution, disgorgement and punitive penalties from S.C. Johnson.


47 Comments


Marlene
I have been using zipLock bags for many years , this is disturbing to know. Will certanly tell alll the young people in my family to stop using.

Diana
I’m trying to find out about the ziplock bag lawsuit. Because I have all kinds of those bags. From sandwich to freezer vags

Laurie
My family has used Ziploc bags for food storage since they came out! You never thought twice about breaking down the family sized meat packages into smaller portions for freezer storage. Then any meal leftovers were automatically put into baggies and heated up in the microwave next day, saving time, energy and cleaning. My family has a history of heart issues and cancer, wonder if there is a common thread there now. Already put a review on Walmart that I will never purchase Ziploc again because of their negative health impacts and practices.

Ellon
We have been using Ziplock brand bags for over 25 years, this is the only brand we use. This is Very disturbing.

Jill
I use zip lock all the time. I suffer from medical issues including thyroid. My medical issues have not been able to be controlled lately.

Donna
I use Ziploc regularly and freeze/thaw in them. It has been in the last month (April 2025) that I have noticed a very strong plastic taste when eating food that was frozen in the ziploc, to the point I have now bought silicon bags to freeze and microwave my food in.

Regina
I have been using zip lock bags for twenty years I thought they were safe!@

Helena
I want in on this lawsuit.

Sarah
Add me to this class action lawsuit. I buy and use these daily and was under the impression these are safe to freeze and put in microwave

James
I wish I saw this prior to defrosting my hamburg in the microwave in a ziploc quart freezer bag.

Carmen
I use zip lock bags to store meat and poultry in the freezer & refrigerator. I would like to know if silicon is any safer or equality dangerous

america
Now I understand why I’ve had constant stomach issues. This is inhumane they have made us all ill.

Suzanne
I am a long-term user of Ziploc freezer bags. I would be interested in further information about this lawsuit.

Marie
Zip lock is my preferred storage bag product. I have found their products to be superior in quality to other bags. Recently, I made a trip to Costco to purchase the bulk assortment of sizes for my family. My primary concern is for myself and my family. I purchase meat in bulk and store it in the freezer. I will be contacting Ziplock and Costco.

Rodney
I would like more information on this. I use the product and now this has my attention. Also if I need to join in my n this lawsuit as well if in the claims are true.

Luigi
Wow I never knew that would come down to this now. I realize what’s going on. I never knew I’ve been using freezer bags for over 10 years or longer. I use the large ones and the medium once for the freezer. Constantly. I recycle them and use my gun and watch this morning. I woke up and I went on Google and I saw this now. I understand. I hope we can resolve this and something comes out of it for us

Carlos
Nice. Well now let’s make a lawsuit with the hospitals for me mee memorial lost my grandma this year due to cancer. From what I recall they reheat containers with a plastic lid. 🤔

Dinna
Every time I’ve used them in the freezer, my food has rent it not frost fit, and I would even double bag them and they steal will run my food, and I was wasting a lot

PHALINA
I worry bout my health and knowing that plastics actually turn into a gas as it ages the gas names is ethylene I wonder if that could be a cause of getting stomach problems like gas so on burns the cells immediately I wonder i know Canada sent a bunch of bottles down south for them to build houses n it’s caused n big forest fire down there with the bottle build houses letting off that gas

Chris
Is it possible to join the class action against Ziploc? I’ve been buying chicken and beef in bulk for years and breaking it up into smaller portions and storing it in ziplock bags in the freezer, thinking this was safe. Then having to thaw it in the microwave in the same bags, again thinking it was safe. I’m almost 48 and I can tell that I have lost my mental sharpness. I was once an encyclopedia and now I often struggle to find the most simple words.

Khadijah
Disgraceful corporate greed to gain a dollar at the cost of the public who trusts them. I have some of these bags now and in my freezer 🤬

Terry
I use the gallon freezer bags for Sous Vide for large groups. I also cook vegetables basicly steaming them in the bag before finishing them on the wok.e

Kera
Me and my family use Ziploc bags

Peter
My wife and I use the following products regularly for storage and freezer, but never in the microwave. I appreciate the information regarding Ziploc and micro plastics. Ziploc Slider Freezer Bags Quart/Medium Ziploc Slider Freezer Gallon/Large Bags Ziploc Slider Storage Bags Quart/Medium Ziploc Slider Storage Bags Gallon/Large

Abram
My containers last a short time

John
We to, thought these Ziploc bags were safe due to advertising.

Jorge
Who will benefit from the lawsuit against Ziploc bag law suit Class action. Millions of us have used and bought them for years.

ML
How do I become a part of this lawsuit

Traci
Add me to the lawsuit I’ve been using ziploc bags, containers, freezer bags for years.

helen
Wow wish I would hv known this . Micro wave for many years this plastics. Was led to believe it was safe . Now hubby has demencia.wounder if caused by this. Hopefully my young kids and I don’t get damage. It’s a shame we can’t even trust foods supplies

Desiree
We use ziploc regulary. How do we file a claim?

Scott
How frivolous. What a waste of tax payer money. Linda Cheslow Should be shamed of herself. This is the kind of BS that everyone despises. It doesn’t help anyone but Linda Cheslow and her ridiculously unintelligent lawyers. This case should never have been taken.

Donna
I said it was okay. I’ve been doing that. Didn’t know it was a problem now.I will stop.

Larissa
I have been buying this brand for years believing their products were safe to use. I am so livid.

Katheryn
I’ve been using this product for decades how do I know if I’ve been exposed and if so what kind of risk for harm are involved?

Heidi
I have started to use these bags since 2016 to now. My elderly mom and Dad started to use them more recently. To freeze and Warm Up. It’s scary for I use them to divide and keep small pieces of toys gathered up and not fall out for my granddaughter toys. I use it to make traveling sandwhiches too. Left overs to be in fridge and warmed up even. I use the Freezer type always. I have health issues. I would like to know more about how to test? And what other illnesses it can cause? Please

Rodney
My family been using this product for 20 years

Rodney
My family used this items for 10 years..My daughter used it to pack her lunch every day.My wife have an autoimmune disease and I high blood pressure.. My daughter is going test for ADHD.

Angela
I use a ziplock bags for everything. I put them in the freezer with my food after I take them out the original package. I need it for my dry foods because I believe that it was better ceiling. And I even use it for the refrigerator left my grades and other fruits in there

Desiree
I have been a Ziploc customer my whole life my grandmother was my mother was. I have Ziploc products in my cupboards right now. This is very worrying to me my grandmother did pass away from heart disease.

Denise
Add me I have been using this product for years and my kids use the named product in this suit to take their snacks to school every day

Debra
I have used ziplock storage & freezer bags for years this is very important information and very disturbing.

John
I use these in freezer and microwave. Now have many medical issues as well as ED

Larry
I have been using Ziploc freezer bags specifically because they say FREEZER on them. I mean I know heating any kind of plastic is not good but freezing I thought was safe, especially when the packaging says FREEZER on them, DOW that is messed up!

Nathan
I just wanted to share this point of fact for me anyway. I have been using the ziplock brand of freezer bags both gallon and the court size. Three things that I have found to be completely accurate with the usage of the bags. First off, the Johnson&Johnson company was putting the phrase “can be used in the microwave but use caution high heat and medium heat levels may cause the bag to melt” for years. Then that phrase and other phrases similar on other products all but disappeared, and that’s directly due to changes in labeling laws ( as I found out about 8 years or more ago while attending cooking school). Even some of the microwave companies were suggesting to not put any type of plastic bags in microwaves. Due to risk of melting and contamination of the food (microplastics). Secondly, for myself during the whole time that I’ve been using the two sizes of ziplock freezer bags. Which includes freezer burn, leaks, or tears in the bag. Thirdly, I believe it was a little over 4 years ago. That a lot of the news stations were covering a release from some of the science Symposium meetings around the planet. That mentioned using plastic food storage containers for reheating the food in the microwave. Was showing to result in the separation of little microplastic pieces that would go into the food. I remember the new story giving suggestions of how to decrease the amount of microplastics. And that was by simply using plastic utensils to stir and mix the food that’s being heated. Of which if you chose to just eat the food straight from the container you would continue to use the plastic utensils. Plus it’s common knowledge that if you use any metal utensils on plastic it’s going to cause little pieces to tear off. Overall conclusion that the new show had ended with was it the scientist stated this type of microplastic bleeding has been happening for the longest time. Which is why it was suggested that you either remove the food to be reheated from the container and use a pottery bowl or plate instead of a plastic container for reheating in the microwave. Or you could use glass containers even the main purpose is to cut back on the amount of microplastics that you would normally be ingesting without realizing it. In closing I would recommend instead of going after the individual zipper storage bag manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson / ziplock or the other companies that make the plastic storage sealable bags. The focus should be pointed towards the government officials from way back when that some I believe are still in office today. That pushed for the different labeling law and other changes that directly affected those cautionary comments from being put on the boxes. That would be in my opinion the direction to go because at this point it’s not the manufacturer’s responsibility to come up with a product that science has already proven would not help us from ingesting microplastics. The only other smart alternative to using the Ziplock storage bags and other manufacturers products that are similar. Is my having those items completely removed from the shelves and having all plastic storage items that could have the potential of being used for food storage whether in the freezer or outside of the freezer, and completely eradicate them. Keep in mind though if you’re using plastic storage shelves at home even if they’re made out of the PVC piping. Virtually every time you remove something that is metal or has a sharp edge to part of that product. While you remove it off the shelf you are causing little micro scrapes to happen thus kicking those fibers into the air and guess what you breathe them in. So please take your lawsuit towards the perpetrators that are the cause of the issue instead of trying to do a lawsuit that is just going to band-aid and already existing wound. As a collective hole we have to go after the cause of the wound and it’s not the plastic bag companies food storage or otherwise. Thank you for taking the time to read my comment if you have and have a good day

Ryan
Wow I’ve been using ziploc bags for years to store food in freezer I always thought it was safe to use in freezer because of the information on the package

Jenna
Y’know, I can’t think of a single person in my entire life who hasn’t used Ziploc bags at some point–myself included. It’s just one of those things you don’t even think about as being a hazard. These types of products, for many of us, have been around since we were children; our parents used them, and our grandparents used them, especially to store food that needed to be frozen–nevermind that your food still ended up freezer burnt 9/10 times. Hell, I vacuum-seal my frozen foods now, and didn’t even think to check if the plastic I’m using could be doing the same thing, but I’m damn sure going to check now! All I know is, if this does end up as a class action, I hope S.C. Johnson has enough liquidity to pay 330 Million Americans–because I can guarantee that’s how many people have used Ziploc bags at some point to microwave or freeze food. EVERYONE. It’s like teflon–and look where we are now.

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