Are plastic food storage bags safe for freezing food?

What's actually in it

Plastic bags are made from materials that are not as stable as they seem. They often contain phthalates (chemicals used to make plastic flexible) and bisphenols (chemicals used to harden plastic). These substances are not locked inside the material. They can move from the plastic into your food.

When you use these bags for freezing, you are still dealing with materials that can leach these additives. Once these chemicals enter your body, they act as endocrine disruptors. This means they interfere with your hormones and can lead to metabolic issues, including liver disease, according to a 2026 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf.

What the research says

Peer-reviewed research shows that these chemicals move out of plastic containers and into what we eat. A 2026 study in J Environ Sci Health B confirms that common plastic materials release phthalates, bisphenols, and perfluorinated compounds.

Temperature changes can make this process worse. A 2026 study in J Food Sci Technol found that even in different temperature conditions, these plastic compounds migrate into food. This puts your health at risk every time you store or freeze your meals in plastic bags.