Can zip bags be washed and reused: expert opinion

But is it safe to put food back in? Here’s what the experts think.

Food safety expert Martin Backnavage says reusing zip bags is perfectly fine, but “with caution”. “If it contained raw meat, poultry, or fish, washing probably wouldn’t remove all of the pathogens in the product,” he says.

The “remove contents and discard packaging” rule also applies if there is food missing from the bag, such as rotten vegetables or moldy cheese. Backnavage believes that it’s impossible to clean a zippered bag well: microscopic food particles are likely to remain inside, no matter how carefully you wash it.

As microbiologist Brian Hedlund explains, the new zip bags are sterile: during production, they are heated to a temperature of 180 to 240 degrees. According to Hedlund, it’s safest to reuse a bag if you’ve stored something dry in it, like cereal or cookies. He also advises to pay attention to the condition of the packaging: “If it is in poor condition, do not use it so as not to swallow microscopic particles of plastic”, specifies Hedlund.

Rinsing them with running water is not enough, that’s what you have to do.

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