A side-gusset bag has front and back face panels each having two longitudinally extending side edges. Two folded side panels are each joined to the face panels at the side edges and each having a center longitudinally extending crease between the respective side edges. A handle assembly consists of a pair of substantially identical handle halves each formed by two longitudinally spaced ends fixed to one of the side folds to a respective side of the crease thereof and a middle section extending between the respective ends and formed unitarily therewith of plastic film. The middle sections are transversely spaced and form an open longitudinally extending gap at least 2 mm wide and aligned with the respective crease. The middle sections extend transversely over less than 80% of a transverse width of the one side fold and have outer edges space at least 5 mm from the respective side edges.