Lawsuit Says Ziploc Bags and Containers Expose People to Microplastics When Put in the Microwave and Freezer

A proposed class action lawsuit claims that S.C. Johnson, the company behind Ziploc bags and containers, fails to inform customers about the risks associated with its products. Specifically, it takes issue with the claims about the bags being “microwave safe” and fit for the “freezer.”

The lawsuit. The proposed class action, which was spotted by Law360, has been filed by California resident Linda Cheslow, who bought Ziploc freezer bags last year. Cheslow claims that when customers place Ziploc bags in the microwave and freezer to heat up and store food, the products shed microplastics.

This makes Ziploc bags and containers “fundamentally unfit for microwave and freezer use,” Cheslow said. The lawsuit alleges that S.C. Johnson engaged in false advertising and marketing.

“The 'microwave safe' misrepresentation creates a false sense of security regarding the products' quality and misleads consumers to believe the products are free from the material risk," the suit said.

The plaintiffs. Cheslow has asked the U.S. District Court in San Francisco to approve her class action in California and on a national level, which could include tens of thousands of people. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for plaintiffs and also aims to force S.C. Johnson to add warning labels to its products.

A Filter Made of Squid Bone and Cotton Could Be the Solution to Our Microplastics Problem

Lawsuit Says Ziploc Bags and Containers Expose People to Microplastics When Put in the Microwave and Freezer

The suit argues that S.C. Johnson engaged in false advertising and fraudulent marketing because the plastic bags shed microplastics when put exposed to heat and cold.

A growing body of research suggests that exposure to microplastics could be harmful to human health.

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