Global warming, climate change, all these things are just a dream come true for politicians. I deal with evidence and not with frightening computer models because the seeker after truth does not put his faith in any consensus. The road to the truth is long and hard, but this is the road we must follow. People who describe the unprecedented comfort and ease of modern life as a climate disaster, in my opinion have no idea what a real problem is.
The complaint contends that despite the risk of microplastic exposure and food contamination, there is no warning, disclaimer or disclosure on product packaging.
If you look in my pantry, you will find it stocked with plastic Ziploc bags of all sizes.
In part, it’s because I find them helpful for food storage as well as some of my work activities. I am sure many Legal Insurrection readers use sealable plastic bags daily without trepidation.
Now, in the land of the setting Sun and lunatics, a California woman is suing the maker of these bags because they supposedly emit microplastics.
The lawsuit — filed by Linda Cheslow of Santa Rosa, California, in the U.S. District Court for Northern California April 25 — claims that Ziploc’s assertion that its products are freezer- and microwave-safe is incorrect and misleading, causing customers to unknowingly expose themselves to dangerous microplastics “during routine kitchen practices.”
“In reality, these Products are made from polyethylene and polypropylene — materials that scientific and medical evidence shows release microplastics when microwaved and frozen — making them fundamentally unfit for microwave and freezer use,” the lawsuit states.
The complaint names several specific products, including but not limited to: pint-, quart- and gallon-sized freezer bags; quart- and gallon-sized slider freezer bags; quart- and gallon-sized slider storage bags; and storage containers.
Ziploc is being sued over claims its bags release harmful microplastics into food increasing risks of cancer and dementia. pic.twitter.com/EMlNpdMSyY
The lawsuit will focus on the lack of warnings and looks like it will encompass all impacted American residents.
The complaint contends that despite the risk of microplastic exposure and food contamination, there is no warning, disclaimer or disclosure on product packaging to inform consumers of the potential health hazards posed by using the items as directed. This is particularly dangerous given that the Ziploc products are meant to be used on a daily basis during routine kitchen activities, the filing argues.
…Reasonable consumers would not have paid as much for the Ziploc containers and bags, or bought them at all, had they known the products could leach harmful microplastics into their food, the case asserts.
The Ziploc bag lawsuit looks to represent all United States residents who, during the applicable statute of limitations period, purchased any of the Ziploc products listed on this page for purposes other than resale.
I have covered the topic of microplastics before, as it looked like it might be revving up to be the next big environmental cause to target big business and corporate dollars.
I suspect the arguments supporting this case will be countered with that from agencies that have asserted that microplastics are not known to cause harm to human health. For example, this is the current information on the subject from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
The presence of environmentally derived microplastics and nanoplastics in food alone does not indicate a risk and does not violate FDA regulations unless it creates a health concern. While many studies have reported the presence of microplastics in several foods, including salt, seafood, sugar, beer, bottled water, honey, milk, and tea, current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that the levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.
Additionally, because there are no standardized methods for how to detect, quantify, or characterize microplastics and nanoplastics, many of the scientific studies have used methods of variable, questionable, and/or limited accuracy and specificity.
The case is interesting because of how ubiquitous plastic bags for food storage and preparation are. I suspect the debate over microplastics, and consumer safety will continue, despite existing evidence indicating that these particles pose no proven health risk.
Still, it’s difficult for the public to trust the science when so much research and regulatory guidance have proven inconsistent or untrustworthy over time.
