The Debbie Meyer GreenBags® are food storage bags, created, manufactured and sold by Housewares America, Inc. They have been available from the Debbie Meyer Brand since 2004. They were first launched on QVC and were an immediate major success.
Independent laboratory results (Nova Biologicals, Inc - Conroe, Texas) and television commercials for the product claim it will keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer, (some items for up to 21 days) by absorbing ethylene gas.[1] [2] The bags' ethylene absorption is intended to slow the ripening process and preserve the produces' shelf life. The product's packaging acknowledges that certain vegetables and fruits are preserved better in the bags than others. For example, strawberries are only advertised to last about nine days in a Green Bag compared to over three weeks for cabbage or carrots. The bags can be used to keep cut flowers fresh longer as well.
Several television news programs have broadcast consumer affairs segments on the product. KDKA-TV Channel 2 News in Pittsburgh featured Debbie Meyer GreenBags® in its recurring "Does It Really Do That?" segment and discovered mostly positive results. [3] KDKA reported that "strawberries, bananas and tomatoes" spoiled in standard storage faster than in the GreenBags®, while the GreenBags® did keep carrots and green peppers "much fresher much longer".
WPVI-TV in Philadelphia also reported on the bags. The station had a viewer keep a log for thirty days.[4] They tested Debbie Meyer GreenBags® against Ziploc Storage Bags, Ziploc Storage Containers, and the food items' original packaging. Most items did better in the GreenBags®.
Another station, KTVI-TV in St. Louis, has given Green Bags a very positive review. They tested the bags for their Deal or Dud segment and found the bags kept both fruits and vegetables fresher. They called the bags “a Deal”.[5]