It could very well be that many of you don’t know why Ziploc is being sued right now and why this Ziploc Class Action Lawsuit is a thing, right? Well, see, the whole thing began when a consumer from the U.S., Linda Cheslow, took S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., the company behind Ziploc, to court on April 25, 2025. Then, only a month later, a different suit was filed in Quebec, Canada, by a law firm called Lambert Avocats on May 26, 2025.
The issue? Both complaints assert that Ziploc products were marketed as “safe for microwave” and “safe for freezer,” but may lead the some (very very small) plastic particles being released into your food as a usual way of using the product, such as heating and freezing. It is at this point that the matter becomes grave.
The argument here is that the consumers were deceived, aka cheated on. How? Well, people believed the labels, consumed the products according to the instructions, and at present, they require responsibility or accountability.
Which Ziploc Products Are Involved?
This lawsuit isn’t about one or two niche items. It covers the everyday Ziploc products most households already use, such as:
- Freezer bags (pint, quart, and gallon sizes)
- Slider bags (with the zipper-like slider)
- Storage bags (standard seal-top ones)
- Ziploc containers (the reusable plastic tubs for leftovers)
Once the label on the product reads “microwave safe,” “freezer safe,” or “dishwasher safe,” the container is most probably made of that kind of material. So, without your knowledge, you might be part of such a lawsuit just because you purchased and used these products.
What Are People Claiming?
The main point is that: Ziploc was promoting their bags and containers as a product that is safe to use in different situations (like freezing or microwaving), and at the same time, they were not revealing that tiny plastic particles enter food through these processes.
The lawsuits claim that such events are not limited to cases of very high or low temperatures, but also occur at normal temperatures. Besides, the release of microplastics becomes even greater as a result of the repeated use of the bags or containers. It is quite disconcerting because Ziploc advertises these products as having multiple uses.
Why Are Microplastics a Big Deal?
Microplastics are microscopic plastic particles that are not visible to the naked eye. Recently, these particles have been detected in an extensive range of items like food, water, blood, lungs, and brains.
According to studies cited in the lawsuits, exposure to microplastics may:
- Weaken the immune system
- Disrupt digestion or hormone function
- Affect reproductive health
- Be linked to premature births (based on recent 2025 research)
Despite the fact that the FDA has still not labeled microplastics as “harmful”, a growing number of studies are indicating the possibility of health risks from microplastics. This is a problem that the experts are keeping a very close eye on.
What’s the Science Behind the Lawsuit?
Ziploc bags, as well as containers, are products of plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. These materials, when exposed to heat, cold, or if they are used multiple times, can fragment into microplastics. The legal actions are linked with the scientific studies pointing to the occurrence of these degradations in normal usage.
It seems that the microplastics can be released not only as a result of extreme temperature changes but also when the zip seal is opened and closed many times. This was confirmed by a 2024 study (which is not directly related to the lawsuit but was referred to by the media).
All in all, to put it in the simplest words possible, if you have been using the same bag for your snacks, sandwiches, or storage daily, then you probably didn’t know that it might not be as safe as you thought.
