Plastic Bags
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Containers & Packaging · CPSC Code 1130
Stable over 5 years
The verdict
Plastic Bags carry a danger score of 40/100 (moderate risk), driven by roughly 8,486 ER-treated injuries a year that are roughly flat over the last five years.
- 40/100
- danger score (moderate risk)
- 8,486
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 7.0%
- end in hospital admission
- 25-34
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 1130 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 40/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for plastic bags - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume8,486 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)7.0%
- Fatality rate0.10%
- 5-year trend+3%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Plastic Bags (CPSC product code 1130, in the Containers & Packaging category) generate an estimated 8,486 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 169,721 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 40/100 for this category (moderate risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are roughly flat over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2024 (11,960 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2005 (4,312 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for plastic bags is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 20,103 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by laceration to the lower leg (16,284 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 28,617 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 7.0% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.10%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 15 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how plastic bags fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 6,352 | 6,705 | |
| 5-14 | 9,075 | 6,658 | |
| 15-24 | 10,556 | 8,682 | |
| 25-34 | 14,517 | 14,100 | |
| 35-44 | 12,978 | 12,539 | |
| 45-54 | 9,738 | 10,504 | |
| 55-64 | 6,863 | 9,864 | |
| 65-74 | 4,563 | 10,540 | |
| 75+ | 4,907 | 10,521 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| All Parts Body | Poisoning | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Internal | Ingestion | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Foot | Laceration | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Lower Arm | Laceration | |
| Ankle | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Trunk | Foreign Body |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
2YOF STUCK PIECE OF GROCERY BAG UP NOSE. DX: FOREIGN BODY IN NOSE.
33YOF JAIL CLEARANCE, FOREIGN BODY IN VAGINA, SMALL PLASTIC BAG WAS FOUND IN THE VAGINAL VAULT, METHAMPHETAMINE USE DX: FOREIGN BODY IN VAGINA, METHAMPHETMINE USE DISORDER, MILD, ABUSE
38 YOM REPORTS THAT HE ATE 2 G OF FENTANYL THAT WAS IN A BAG. DX: OPIOID OVERDOSE UNDETERMINED INTENT.
26 YOM WAS ARRESTED AND WAS TURNED AWAY AT JAIL BOOKING AFTER REPORTING THAT HE HAD INGESTED MULTIPLE BAGS OF FENTANYL AND EXTASY. HE ALSO SWALLOWED SOME DRUGS THAT WERE NOT IN BAGS. DX: PAIN AND SWELLING LEFT LOWER LEG, ABDOMINAL PAIN.
45 YOM PRESENTS WITH FENTANYL INGESTION IN A PLASTIC BAGGY. HE NOTES THAT HE HAD THE FENTANYL FROM A STRANGER AT A BUS STATION AND IS COMING SO HE SWALLOWED IT INSTINCTIVELY. DX: OPIOID USE.
33 YOF WAS ARRESTED, A BODY SCAN WAS PERFORMED AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHICH SHOWED POSSIBLE FOREIGN BODIES. A BAG OF PILLS WAS FOUND IN PT'S VAGINA. DX: FOREIGN BODY IN VAGINA
36 YOF PRESENTS FROM JAIL STATING THERE WAS FENTANYL IN A *** BACK THAT SHE PUT IN HER VAGINA TODAY. PT WOULD NOT CONSENT TO A PELVIC EXAM. DX: VAGINAL DISCHARGE
28 YOM CUT LEFT HAND ON A PIECE OF BROKEN GLASS WHILE TAKING OUT A BAG OF TRASH. DX: PALMAR LACERATION
31YOM PRESENTS TO ED AFTER WIFE FOUND HIM TRYING TO HURT HIMSELF. PT TOOK 2 *** TABS AND PUT PLASTIC BAG OVER HEAD. PT DENIES TRYING TO HURT HIMSELF . PT NOT PRESCRIBED *** ON CHART DX; SUICIDAL IDEATION
74YOF WITH FALL IN WHICH PT WAS WALKING IN HALLWAY AT HOME AND SLIPPED ON PLASTIC BAG AND FELL. DX: DISLOCATION OF LEFT SHOULDER
42YOF WAS CARRYING HEAVY PLASTIC BAGS FOR HER DAUGHTER AND NOW HAVING LOW BACK PAIN. DX LOW BACK PAIN
69YOF PRESENTS AFTER SHE SLIPPED ON A PLASTIC BAG, FELL, AND LANDED ON HER LEFT KNEE SUSTAINING ABRASION IN PARKING LOT. DX: FALL, KNEE PAIN
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
This concern is regarding the Walmart located at 5851 NW 177 street, Hialeah, Fl. 33015 (Miami, Fl.). The grey plastic bags that are used to bag consumers products have a horrific odor. Since the odor is extremely offensive, it causes coughing, sneezing, and wheezing. I reported this problem to the regional office and nothing has been done. I have three of the bags in a envelop ready to mail to your office when instructed. As a consumer, its imperative that I should be able to shop in any store and not be concern about me and my family's health and well being. I would appreciate your attention in this matter. Thank you!
Incident: Kroger Grocery employee deliberately bagged my items in a used bloody bag. She had the opportunity of correcting her actions, instead she continued to hand me a bloody bag. I didn't the blood at that instance. Need: Conduct a thorough investigation as to whether this is Standard Operations for Kroger. The company is discontinuing Plastic Bags in 2020, but if employees are still issuing out dirty bloody bags; It DEFEATS the purpose of elimination. I visited the employee and showed her my adverse reactions that developed. I need to know if she is contagious and who were the customers next in line (did they go home with a bloody bag(s). Solution: I (as well as possible other patrons), have the right to know the truth (why did it happen?. I would like to see the incident unfold on camera as I remember it in my head. A representative of Kroger's behalf stated "We do not know what that substance is". Meaning, it could be human blood, lamb blood, nose blood, paint from a marker, industrial cleaning chemical or the bag manufacturers blood. The bag is and has always been available to test.
Hello, My name is ,[REDACTED] and I am employed in the service industry as an environmental services technician and I've been in the field for over 12 years. I have an issue with some of the plastic trash can liners that I've been using that I receive from a company called Sikes Paper Company located in Atlanta, GA 30336. The trash can liners emit a potent toxic odor that can be smelled within a 5-6 feet radius around a single, new, trash bag liner. The only way to describe this odor is the smell of toxic waste. These liners are almost always made in China I believe, but lately the packaging the liners are shipped in no longer state the country of origin. This odor also induces headaches whenever I, personally smell the odor. The liners are also unusually heavy compared to other liners of the same size and shape, even though they are somewhat thin and I suspect they contain lead. During a recent vacation I was out of contact with these liners for over 1 week during which I felt a lot better, which leads me to believe the liners leach some kind of chemical in the air or leach some kind of chemical or substance whenever I handle the liners with my bare hands. [REDACTED] I would very much like to submit a sample of the liners [REDACTED] in order to test for any toxic chemicals or substances. The contact info for the company and info off the box that the plastic liners are shipped in, is as follows: PLASTIC LINERS: [REDACTED] Part # of liners CL-3858SH 38-58 size in inches 100/CS 1.5 EQ Black LCR221658STK 6031032110 945781S-02 QC-00137 BAR CODE 945781s-2-00137 [REDACTED] Thank you and hope to hear from you soon, [REDACTED]
Purchased Meijer large 1 gallon freezer bags at 299 after closer inspection of the freezer bags it seems that the freezer bags have an imperfection at the top which lets air in every bag in the container was the exact same way and then once I purchased two more Meijer 1 gallon freezer bags they were the exact same which pretty much renders the bag useless for its intended purpose
Glad Force flex garbage bags purchased St Walgreens located at [REDACTED] Fort Lee Nj 07924..UPC BAR CODE ON THESE IS 012587 78 362 7****these are fragrance free TALL KITCHEN 45 (FORTY FIVE BAGS)..These plastic bags had a very bad odor that made me nauseated and intoxicated while using them. Please inspect these and all the other items of the Walgreens stores. I have called the main number at Walgreens and have spoken to the managers of these stores about these issues and much more ,because their Walgreens paper towels and facial tissues have a bad odor too ect ect ,but they do not care and they keep selling the same crap over and over to the innocent population. Please inspect this items and much more St ALL THE WALGREENS AND OTHER MARKETS WHERE THESE ITEMS ARE SOLD.THANK YOU!
The consumer stated that the bags are heavily perfumed. The consumer took one trash bag out and put it in his trash can in the basement. The consumer has asthma and he had a difficulty breathing from the scent. The consumer stated that the packaging does not state that the bags are perfumed. The consumer contacted the manf. They offered to provide him $12 coupon for their products. The consumer spent $45.85 on the bags. The consumer stated that the manf informed him that their products are unscented unless it states [REDACTED] on the packaging. The consumer stated that the trash bags he has does not state [REDACTED] or "Scented" on the packaging. The consumer stated that while purchasing the product online, there was no way for him to find out that the product is scented unless it is stated on the packaging. The consumer stated that in the store, the buyer may be able to smell the perfume through the box. The consumer stated that all three members in his house suffered from nasal congestion and difficulty sleeping (due to breathing difficulty). The consumer is a Medical Doctor. He stated that the perfume in the bags can easily trigger asthma. The product should be labeled accordingly or not perfumed. The consumer wants his money back for the purchase. He does not want to purchase any other Glad products if they cannot assure him that their product will be perfume free. The information is true but incomplete, lacking the product number, and lacking the photos the consumer sent. The consumer is attaching the photos to this report. Also the trash can was in the kitchen, not the basement. A better date for the estimate of the other incident is April 29, 2015, but the general breathing problems may have begun weeks earlier when the boxes were received.
I put a bag of Trader Joes spanish rice with veggie in microwave to defrost and within about 30 seconds it was engulfed in flames! Lucily I was there and able to grab it and run outside with the products still in flames and put the flame out!
A box of new bags were opened. That is when consumer first detected odor and symptoms. The consumer stated that he smelled the freezer bag of food. The consumer stated that he smelled the bag and noticed that it had a strong chemical odor. He stated that he decided to pull the rest of the freezer bags that were not used and they all had the same strong chemical odor. Bags were pulled from freezer second. The consumer stated he took at the bags out of the box and noticed the box did not have the odor. The consumer stated that all the bags had the same odor and the temperature change did not take the odor off. The consumer stated that both the bags that were in storage and the ones inside freezer both had the same odor. He stated that the odor from the freezer bags was all over the kitchen. The consumer stated that they both started to experienced nausea headaches and dizziness. The consumer stated that he also noticed that in the last couple of days he had become very lethargic and that was unusual to him. The consumer stated that he removed the freezer bags from inside the house and would be contacting the manufacturer to file a report. UPDATE: S.C Johnson contacted and admitted that the bag must be cured and due to demand the bags were shipped. They also said to remove food from all ziploc 1 gallon bags and discard food due to possible cross-contamination. S.C. Jonhson sent new bags. All 1 gallon z-locks had same odor. Bags returned 1/5/13. S.C. Johnson sent $59 for food loss.
Showing 8 of 15 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to plastic bags on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are plastic bags?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, plastic bags have a danger score of 40/100 (moderate risk). An estimated 8,486 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from plastic bags?
The most common injury is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 20,103 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from plastic bags increasing or decreasing?
Stable over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for plastic bags injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 28,617 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by plastic bags?
Of all ER visits involving plastic bags, approximately 7.0% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (93.0%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with plastic bags?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Containers & Packaging
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 40/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 25-34 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.