Lawyers in Ziploc Lawsuit To Meet With Judge for Case Management Conference on Aug. 5

Ziploc freezer-safe and microwavable bags release dangerous microplastics under extreme temperature changes, lawsuit claims.

The federal judge presiding over a recently filed Ziploc microplastic lawsuit has ordered the lawyers involved in the litigation to appear for a case management conference on August 5, 2025, at which time the court will review the timeline for pretrial proceedings in the claim, which has raised serious concerns among consumers since the allegations were first brought.

The Ziploc bag class action lawsuit was filed by Linda Cheslow in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California late last month, claiming that S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. failed to disclose that its freezer-safe and microwavable bags may release harmful microplastics when exposed to extreme temperatures.

S.C. Johnson has owned the Ziploc brand since acquiring DowBrands in 1998. Marketed as resealable and microwave-safe, Ziploc bags are typically made from polyethylene, a common food-grade plastic. 

However, studies have found that under certain conditions, such as exposure to high heat or freezing temperatures, polyethylene can release microplastics, raising concerns about potential health risks.

Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, which have been linked by researchers to disruptions in the endocrine system, damage to the gut microbiome and potential harm to DNA, increasing risks of cancer, heart disease and other health problems. In recent years, they have been detected in nearly all parts of the human body, including the human brain and human testicles.

In the complaint, Cheslow argues that because Ziploc bags are made from polyethylene and polypropylene, their materials can degrade under microwave heat or freezing temperatures, potentially releasing microplastics into the food stored inside.

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

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.

Ziploc Lawsuit Case Management Conference

A case management order (PDF) was issued in the Ziploc lawsuit by Judge William H. Orrick of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on May 23.

Lawyers for both Cheslow and S.C. Johnson will be required to attend the case management conference, which will be held via Zoom.

The Judge is directing lawyers for both parties to confer prior to the conference and submit a joint case management statement no less than seven days before the conference is held.

It is expected that the conference will set dates for trial, pretrial conferences, and hearing dispositive motions, as well as cutoff dates for discovery and designation of experts.