Are you looking for the safest plastic sandwich bags similar to Ziploc without indication of PFAS “forever chemicals?” Mamavation sent several types of plastic sandwich bags to an EPA certified laboratory to find out which ones may be contaminated with PFAS. PFAS “forever chemicals” are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used as stain-resistant, water-resistant, & oil-resistant chemicals in commerce, however they are very toxic, persistent, and detrimental to hormonal health. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best water purifiers to filter PFAS “forever chemicals,” safest baking sheets, cookie pans, & sheet pans, & safest cookware sans PFAS & nanoparticles, now join us for our latest consumer study on plastic sandwich bags similar to Ziploc tested for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.”
Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links, some of which are to Amazon. Mamavation uses affiliate money received to pay ourselves back for testing and fund other consumer investigations in the future. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you for supporting Mamavation!
Table of Contents
Mamavation’s Lab Finds Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” In Plastic Sandwich Bags (Ziploc Type Bags)
Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory found indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” after analyzing 11 popular plastic sandwich bags similar to Ziploc. PFAS is found in many other areas of our homes with some examples being cookware, makeup, drinking water, contact lenses & dental floss. These chemicals are linked to serious health effects, which we will discuss later. Because PFAS are so toxic, Mamavation has commissioned our own scientific studies on indications of PFAS in products to make recommendations for plastic sandwich bags like Ziploc made from PFAS-free materials. Read Mamavation’s articles on these products to find which brands are organic-fluorine-free.
For this consumer study, Mamavation sent 11 plastic sandwich bags similar to Ziploc from 10 brands to an EPA-certified laboratory looking for indications of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals.” Here’s what we found:
- 81% of total plastic sandwich bags tested had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” 9 detections from 11 plastic sandwich bags had organic fluorine above 10 parts per million (ppm) according to our lab,
- Ranges of organic fluorine, a marker of PFAS, were from 9 ppm to 34 ppm.
In other words, the vast majority of plastic sandwich bags we sent to the lab had traces of organic fluorine above 10 parts per million. If you are using plastic storage bags for food storage, this investigation will be very important to follow to reduce your family’s exposure to PFAS indicators.
PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Have Problematic Health Effects
PFAS “forever chemicals” are problematic for human health and the environment. They are considered ubiquitous, persistent, and toxic. In fact, many of these PFAS chemicals can last for years or decades in our bodies. The health effects from exposure to PFAS on the armpit areas right next to breast tissue are unknown. It’s also unknown what happens when it is absorbed into our tissues and travels around in our bodies. However, we do know that these areas can be vulnerable to toxic chemicals like PFAS “forever chemicals” because of the proximity to breast tissue and the lymphatic system. Therefore, it’s imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from food, water, and consumer products like plastic storage bags. Mamavation is dedicated to helping you do that when you are shopping for food storage products.
Here are some of the health effects of different PFAS “forever chemicals:”
- Reduction in immunity
- Reduced vaccination response
- Increased risk of allergies & asthma in young children
- Affected growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
- Increase cholesterol levels
- Metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Lowered a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
- Lowered male fertility
- Increased risk of kidney & testicular cancers
- Causes endocrine disruption
- Disrupted normal thyroid function
- Increases risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children
It’s also very clear based on biomonitoring evidence from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that PFAS are in all Americans. Therefore, these exposures can harm most Americans.
Cautions on Using Plastic Sandwich Bags for Food Storage
We recognize that plastic sandwich bags, like Ziploc, have many uses other than just food storage. Although we recommend that you use glass & stainless steel for your food storage, sometimes we make compromises and having a plastic bag is more convenient. From plastic freezer bags, to quart bags, to gallon bags, ziploc bags are commonplace in most homes. The mystery is what they are made from inside the plastic film to make them so durable. We cannot answer for you what the additives are each brand is using in each bag because we did not do that type of testing, because it’s more than we can afford. But at the very least, Mamavation can help you understand whether your plastic sandwich bags are contaminated with PFAS “forever chemical” indicators, which would make them more problematic than regular plastic bags.
From storing hobby materials with their easy-grip texture, airtight zipper, and easy grip seal these bags are very convenient to use for other types of storage that are non-food related. We get it. Mamavation uses Ziploc brand gallon bags for collecting materials and sending to the lab, as do many other scientists. (Note: Ziploc brand is non-detect.)
However, there are some additional cautions we will give you if you are using them for food storage.
- One rule we would caution you with is do NOT put them into the microwave or place hot items inside because heat can speed up the leaching process. Room temperature food will pose less of a leaching risk.
- We also caution you to NEVER reuse these bags for food storage because they are meant for one use and one use only. After one use, they start to break down and can release the additives within the bag easier. So do not “recycle” them by washing them out and reusing them again.
- Do NOT place food items inside that are high in fat or acid like cheese or spaghetti sauce. Those types of ingredients also speed up the leaching process just like heat does. Take precautions and when storing these types of food, make sure to use glass & stainless steel.
Most of the sandwich bag brands we tested claim to be free from Bisphenol A (BPA) and some additional ones claim to be free from phthalates in their product details, which is pretty standard. Just note there are many other chemicals that can be present that are still harmful to hormones so this is why glass and stainless steel are superior food storage tools for your kitchen.
Other Categories of Products Mamavation Has Tested for Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Before we launch into the raw data from our lab, we wanted to remind you about all the other studies we have done on indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” inside the food and consumer products you may bring inside your home. Each one of these studies were done in a similar fashion as this study with brands sent independently to the lab and raw data of those labs at the bottom of the post.
- Soft Contact Lenses
- Green Beauty Makeup
- Lip Balm
- Deodorants
- Condoms & Lubricants
- Dental Floss
- Toilet Paper
- Period Underwear
- Tampons
- Sanitary Pads, Pantiliners, & Incontinence Pads
- Powdered Electrolytes
- Butter Wrappers
- Pasta & Tomato Sauces
- Nut Butters (Peanut butter, etc.)
- Cooking Oils (olive oil, almond oil, canola oil, etc)
- Ketchup
- Activewear (Yoga Pants)
- Sports Bras
- Parchment Paper
- Cupcake Liners
- Plastic-Free Straws
- Fast Food Packaging
- Children’s Probiotics
- Kids’ Backpacks
- Baby Strollers
Mamavation’s Investigation of Plastic Sandwich Bags & Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Plastic sandwich bags were purchased and donated between December 2022 and February 2024. Each product was recorded in our database and then sent directly to the lab within its original packaging.
Testing: Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory uses marker testing to identify the potential presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in deodorants. Organic fluorine is a marker for PFAS because all PFAS chemicals are carbon-based compounds that contain fluorine. The specific lab method used to test for total fluorine was the Determination of Total Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode. If total fluorine was observed at a detection level of 10 ppm or greater, the lab did the Determination of free Fluoride Ion in the product by Ion-Selective Electrode and then subtracted that from the Total Fluorine to determine the amount of organic fluorine. This marker testing is likely to show the presence of PFAS. Organic fluorine can also capture other fluoropolymers, pharmaceuticals, and common hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, such as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (commonly known as R-134a) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (commonly known as HFO-1234yf), which are all also PFAS. None of which you want around your food, food storage, or personal care products.
Scott Belcher, Ph.D. & Associate Professor with the Center for Environmental & Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University says “fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are extremely common forms of PFAS that could be contributing to the organic fluorine found in plastic storage bags. Methods used for detecting individual PFAS, such as PFOA or GenX, cannot directly identify PTFE. However, the analysis of total organic fluorine (TOF) does account for all PFAS contaminants in deodorants, including PTFE. Therefore, this method of testing serves as a good ‘spot-check’ of consumer products.”
Mamavation’s Raw Data on Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Plastic Sandwich Bags Like Ziploc
Not Our Favorite Plastic Sandwich Bags like Ziploc
These products were sent off to an EPA-certified laboratory and found to have traces of organic fluorine, which is indicative of PFAS “forever chemicals.”
- Boulder Sandwich Bags — 32 ppm organic fluorine
- Complete Home Double Zipper Storage Bags (Quart size) — 19 ppm organic fluorine
- Great Value Sandwich Bags — 17 ppm organic fluorine
- If You Care Snack & Sandwich Bags — 11 ppm organic fluorine
- Lunchskins Recyclable Sandwich Bags — 9 ppm organic fluorine
- Meijer Freezer Double Zipper Bags (gallon size) — 15 ppm organic fluorine
- Meijer Sandwich Double Zipper Bags — 34 ppm organic fluorine
- Target Brand Sandwich baggie Up & Up brand — 14 ppm organic fluorine
- Walgreens Double Zipper Seal Storage Bags (gallon size) — 20 ppm organic fluorine
Better Plastic Sandwich Bags like Ziploc
These products were sent off to an EPA-certified laboratory and found to have no detection of organic fluorine.
- Debbie Meyer Green Bags — non-detect organic fluorine
- Ziploc Sandwich Bags — non-detect organic fluorine. (Note: don’t be shocked by this non-detect. Ziploc is used by scientists all over the country for collection because it’s non-detect for organic fluorine. As you can see with these results, using other brands can be a problem if you are collecting something and testing it because of the potential for contamination.)
Best Sandwich Bags like Ziploc
We don’t have any products for this category yet.
Stanley Cup Tested For Lead & Cadmium at EPA-Certified Lab
I’m a huge fan of your content—always so informative and engaging. Lucky me I came across your site! Looking forward to more posts like this. Annonces d’immobilier à louer au Maroc
I’m a huge fan of your content—always so informative and engaging. Lucky me I came across your site! Looking forward to more posts like this. Annonces d’immobilier à louer au Maroc
Is there testing for reusable sandwich bags? I got silicone ones from Amazon and use those instead of ziploc and their copy cats.
I was told in one of my medical seminars that silicone utensil, Bakewell etc, were toxic. They contain antifungals, phthalate, and adipates amongst other chemicals. We don’t use any silicone products in our home.
Right? I like your blog and heardle
Please sign me up for your extremely beneficial testings.
Thank You
how about testing those thin disposable food handling gloves? I think made of polyethylene? We’ve been using excess Ziploc sandwich bags someone gave me as gloves. Wanted to try the thinner sandwich bags without the Ziploc if they make those anymore. we do try to use as little plastic as possible, but often need gloves.
Could you please clarify if the “If You Care Snack and Sandwich Bags” were paper or plastic? I can only find a paper “Snack and Sandwich Bag” online and that is what we use in our home. Thank you.
As David Wolfe says, no plastic is safe. Some is just worse than others.
If we’re going to make our own Ketchup because of pfas, should we only buy vinegar in glass bottles then? Also, why can’t these corrupt industries switch to plant based plastics, wouldn’t that be the best solution?
I buy everything I can in glass, especially acidic items, like vinegar, as they will leach out the most chemicals.
What about Amazon Basics zip reclosable bags?
Most all cheese is wrapped in plastic, how do we know forever chemicals have leached into the cheese? Have you tested cheese and ketchup.
Thanks for all the info
Seemingly plastic in direct contact with raw food dairy vegetables meat and supplements please investigate.
Merry Christmas
God Bless
James Whitehead
Have you tested cheese and tomato sauce for “forever chemicals” leached from plastic. Most cheese is in plastic.
How do we know ?
I would absolutely love some testing or data about silicome products and whether leeching occurs when freezing/defrosting. My cat has to eat raw food because of his IBD, and we’re having a hell of a time with keeping the food from getting freezer burnt. Our current process is to wrap the servings in plastic wrap and then alluminum foil, and I HATE it. Not reusable in any fashion and I’d rather invest in something safer, but I need it to be air tight or prevent freezer burn and either be small to hold 1-2 servings, or easy to open/close so I can thaw 1 or 2 servings at a time.
When my kids were babies, I used the baby bullet blender to make their food purées. It came with a silicone storage container that held a bunch of tiny portions of food, which could be frozen together, but removed one by one. That might be perfect for you.
There are some glass ‘leftover’ pieces that also have glass lids
I make my own cat food ans store them in 2oz glass jars that I found on Amazon
Can you test plastic prescription medication bottles for PFA’s?
There is a aweful chemical. Smell in the orange/ brown plastic prescription bottles. It smells like some bad smelling chemicals. I am concerned that those bottles contain PFA’s and other harmful cancer causing chemicals!
That’s a good idea if @Leah could test them!
Thank you for this article. My husband, a physician said it is not a valid argument because you did not test and report each and every item with specific measurements. I have told him over and over again not to put hot food into plastic or to microwave food in plastic.
I wonder if those plastic microwave covers you put over a plate or bowl of food would contaminate the food if it does not touch it. Steam however does condense and drip onto the food.
Just a suggestion to study.
I have been buying glass only storage containers. Still awkward to store small items like the cheese you mentioned in the article. Guess I have to go back to wax paper if I can find it!
I save packaging like foil lined Chito bags or garden of Eatin products, to store foods like that in
I store a lot of refrigerator item in glass jars with a screw lid.
If you do this again can you test Natural Value brand. Thanks!
Thank you so very much!
I certainly appreciate what you all are doing.
Hopefully, more donations come in so that you can continue to test items, we are all probably using.
What about President’s choice ziploc bags?
I guess I understand not posting all the data, but I have questions. How many bags from each brand were tested? What parts of the bags exhibited the highest ppm of organic fluorine, since the zipper and the bag tend to be different plastics? What kind of pharmaceuticals can skew results? Common ones?
I would like to know the relationship you have with makers of ZIPLOC bags….please disclose ANY conflict of interests here, this article sounds more like an infomercial. Concerned about the objectivity of the I found and data….is this a sponsored ad that in not so labled??
No conflict of interest. We’ve never had any relationship with Ziploc. Nice try though.
I thought the same thing… every brand was about the same and bad bad bad and then ziplock name brand to the rescue… perfection. Buy ziplock!
“Nice try” wasn’t very nice. It was a valid point… so not impressed with your retort at all.
So Ziploc brand is safe…
What about Wegmans sandwich and freezer bags?
I’m just wondering, what about silicone bags like Stasher (expensive but reusable)? Also what about the thin plastic bags that stores (like Whole Foods) provide for bagging produce, like lettuce? Personally I am trying hard to avoid/reduce plastic, but we do keep those produce bags and even reuse them. Also, so many products come in plastic – most, in fact. From bread (plastic bags) to dairy (plastic containers), etc. etc. It’s really impossible to avoid unless you go off and live on a farm and make all your own food… Just wondering – a few thoughts and questions running through my mind. I do appreciate the two brands that are recommended….
We haven’t done any silicone testing yet. That industry does have some problems, https://www.foodpackagingforum.org/news/scientists-find-most-silicon-rubber-kitchenwares-are-endocrine-disrupting
Perhaps in 2025, but I think we will start with menstrual cups first before we do food packaging. Labs are expensive so we have to pace ourselves.
What if certain foods (ex. cheese, fruits, etc.) were wrapped in wax paper first then bagged?
How about we live sustainably, natural, self sufficient lives? Eliminate the toxins, Eliminate the excess, produce for ourselves and exchange within our communities. Not put a band-aid between ourselves and the demise of our entire existence on this planet. Just a thought. I know it’s much easier to reach for the band-aid.
Wax paper is petroleum based. Use parchment paper. If you Care brand tested better than Paper Chef.
What about Hercules twin zip resealable bags? These are very popular here in Australia. I recently placed 1121 rare, old and new video games in these Hercules ziploc bags in order to try and protect them in the event of a major flood. Seeing the floods in Queensland on the news really freaked me out. I spent 2 months double zip locking my entire video game collection, then I placed them inside heavy duty plastic storage boxes.
If you would like to send me some unopened boxes of brands that are only available in Australia, we can test some. Get a hold of me leah at bookieboo dot com. May not happen right away, but we can address a few brands internationally as well. We can do this from the UK & Canada too…our audience is made up of mostly US, but we do have a sprinkle of UK, Canada, & Australia as well.
What about Berkeley Jensen please?
Is it possible to test Natural Value bags? They’re stated to be BPA & PVC free.
Would this apply to quart or gallon size of the same brands?
Thanks
Thank you so much. You provide such valuable information. Much appreciated
What about IKEA ziplock bags? We use them because they are sturdy and inexpensive.
Was wondering about them too. When we use bags, they are from Ikea
Interested in this as well
Are compostable bags PFAS free?
Berkey filters out meds!
We can only comment on what we’ve specifically tested
Next round would you consider testing Hefty brand bags, since they are a major competitor for Ziploc (and cheaper!)?
I realy like your work!
Hi, would it be possible to test Reverse Osmosis water filtration brands for ability to filter prescription medications? I use a 5 Stage RO system by APEC. I contacted them and they haven’t tested prescribed meds yet. EWG also responded that they haven’t tested yet. I also contacted the EPA for testing tap water of medications, but they never responded. Seems like no one is testing for prescribed meds in our water supply or water filters yet. Thanks!
Berkey filters out meds!
Why would you rest for that? Are you serious? How would that even happen? I hate big pharma as much as most people but come on. They are not dumping “medicine” in our water supply and if you’re talking about what people pee or poop out that’s getting filtered and sent back through the system. .. well it’s not an issue. If they’re getting the other toxin’s out they’re getting that out as well.
They’re not getting out PFAs so I have some doubts about meds being filtered when there isn’t much data about it. I at least wouldn’t take it as 100% that there is zero chance of contamination. Probably a whole lot less a risk than PFAs being in the water though.
That’s a bald faced lie. Not only do people flush medicine or drugs all of the time BUT it’s not all getting filtered out. You must watch the fake news. They’re NOT getting toxins out of the water, that’s the problem. Not to mention there are some places now recycling gray water as drinking water. It’s an absolute disgrace.
I believe what you are saying about the meds, etc!! Truth.
Wax paper is petroleum based. Use parchment paper. If you Care brand tested better than Paper Chef.
Most of our water supply is contaminated with pharmaceuticals and other junk. We must filter our water to make it safe for drinking. Municipal water systems do not do a good job of cleaning up our water. They chlorinate to kill the bugs. That’s about it.
Do you happen to know a good whole house filter system? I’ve been looking, met with 3 companies… but I get overwhelmed and don’t want to buy something that’s just marketing or greenwashing.