Yes, Ziploc brand bags meet all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for direct food contact.
Safety and Plastics
SC Johnson's Ziploc® brand bags and Containers are BPA free. Our products are extensively evaluated for toxicity and safety and comply with applicable quality and safety regulations.
10 Zero-waste plastic bag alternatives
Yes, according to class-action lawsuits and consumer advocacy groups, Ziploc bags can release microplastics when frozen.
Brand-name Ziploc bags are generally considered safe for basic, short-term food storage. However, to avoid potential chemical or microplastic leaching, you should use them only for room temperature or cold foods. For optimal safety and longevity, consider the following best practices:
The safest materials to freeze food in are glass, food-grade silicone, and stainless steel. These options are non-toxic, free of harmful chemicals (like BPA, phthalates, and microplastics), and do not leach into food during the freezing or thawing process.
Twelve states have enacted statewide bans on single-use plastic grocery bags: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Reusable Silicone Bags
Silicone bags have gained popularity as a sustainable alternative to plastic bags. Made from food-grade silicone, these handy bags are reusable, dishwasher-safe, and freezer-friendly – suitable for long-term storage (up to 12 months).
Putting a penny (or any coin) in the freezer is an easy trick used to check if your freezer lost power while you were away, and whether your frozen food is still safe to eat.
A quality reusable silicone bag might run several times the price of a pack of Ziploc bags. But because they last so long, using silicone bags leads to long term savings. Ziploc bags are cheap initially but add up if you frequently buy replacements. Plus, the environmental costs aren't reflected in the price.
The safest, plastic-free ways to freeze food use glass, stainless steel, parchment paper, or silicone. These non-toxic, non-porous alternatives prevent chemicals from leaching into your meals, eliminate single-use waste, and keep food fresh while effectively defending against freezer burn.
The best reusable food bags are those that are durable, airtight, and easy to clean. Top picks include Stasher Silicone Bags for heavy-duty storage and versatility, Zip Top Silicone Containers for a stand-up, wide-mouth design, and Bee's Wrap for a plastic-free alternative.
The safest and most practical alternatives to Ziploc bags are reusable food-grade silicone bags (like Stasher) and compostable plant-based bags (like those from Green Paper Products). These options eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals like BPA, BPS, lead, and phthalates found in traditional plastic.
The California Plastic Bag Ban is a statewide law that prohibits most stores from handing out plastic bags at checkout. Starting January 1, 2026, only paper or reusable bags can be used. A separate rule beginning January 1, 2025, bans plastic produce bags.
The safest plastics for food storage are Polypropylene (PP, #5), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE, #2), and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE, #4). These materials are stable, resist leaching chemicals into food, and are generally BPA- and phthalate-free.
5 Foods to Avoid Refreezing
You may have heard of it: Freeze a cup of water solid, set a coin on top of the ice, and put it back in the freezer. The idea is that if your power goes out while you're away and the freezer warms enough for the ice to melt, the coin will drop down into the cup.
You should turn them in. Because the Treasury has halted penny production, common pennies will not gain collector value in our lifetime. Instead, cash them in for full value at your bank, or avoid fees at local grocery stores by taking a gift card.
Stainless steel containers are unbreakable and very suitable for meat and large portions. Only fill jars ¾ full with liquid and don't seal them shut with the lid until the contents are frozen. Ice cube trays are perfect for small portions. Wax wraps can be used as an alternative to plastic freezer bags.
Silicone is far and away a superior material to traditional plastic baggies when it comes to packing snacks and storing leftovers in the fridge or freezer. And these OXO products are made from LFGB-certified silicone, which means they meet the highest of safety standards.
Wrap In Parchment
Wrapping the slices also keeps them from sticking together, so you can pull out individual slices as you need them.
The United States produces the highest total volume of plastic waste globally, generating roughly 34 million metric tons annually. However, when measuring ocean pollution and mismanaged waste, the Philippines and India are the leading contributors due to limited local recycling infrastructure.
This year, Waitrose took the top spot on Greenpeace's UK supermarket plastic footprint league for the second time in a row. They've made a pledge that all Waitrose brand packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2023, and so far they're on the right track with 86% of their packaging meeting the goal.
According to some researchers, plastic water bottles could take upwards of 450 years to decompose. That's equivalent to 5,400 months, or 21,600 weeks, or 1,971,000 days just for one single plastic bottle to decompose.