Why Some States Are Saying Goodbye to Teflon Pans

Most kitchens are well stocked with Teflon pans or other nonstick pots and pans.  Most cooks love these pans as cooking with less oil and cleaning up is so much easier.  But now some states are banning Teflon and other nonstick pots and pans.  Why? 

What is Teflon, a nonstick coating, used on pots and pans? 

The kitchn states, “Teflon is a brand name for the chemical coating PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) that is used to make cookware nonstick.”    Teflon has been around for a long time.  Dr. Roy J. Plunkett, working for Dupont’s Jackson Laboratory, discovered Teflon by accident on April 6, 1938.   The first nonstick cooking pans were invented years later in 1954 in France.  The U.S. had the first nonstick cookware in 1961.  The “first commercially available Teflon coated frying pan” was the Happy Pan in 1957. 

Why are some states banning Teflon and other nonstick pans?

Consumer Reports recently wrote, Best Frying Pans If You Want to Avoid PFAS Chemicals.  In this article, they noted that although nonstick pans are easy to use and affordable, the nonstick coating in these pans gets scratched and doesn’t last forever.  The coating in some nonstick pans contains the chemical, PFOA, a type of PFAS or forever chemical.  Another is PFTE, known by the brand name Teflon.  PFAS has been linked to several health issues.  The main concern is that when nonstick pans are heated to high temperatures, harmful fumes can be released, especially if the pans are significantly scratched. Such fumes can cause respiratory irritation, hormonal disruptions, and potentially a cancer risk.  Some researchers have stated that nonstick cookware coated with PTFE can give off toxic gases even at normal cooking temperatures.

Which states are banning nonstick pans?

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, Minnesota is the first state to ban nonstick cookware that contains the “forever chemical” PFAS.  But manufacturers aren’t happy with this ban and T-fal, Circulon, and All-Clad are suing Minnesota as FDA has deemed Teflon containing PTFE as safe.  FDA notes that only negligible amounts of PFAS in non-stick pans can migrate to food. 

Other states are also banning nonstick cookware next year including Colorado, Maine, and Vermont. Rhode Island’s ban takes effect in 2027 and Connecticut in 2028.

If you want to avoid PFAS chemicals in pans, what pans should you buy?

Consumer Reports tested many nonstick pans, even ones that claimed they were PFOA-free.  However, Consumer Reports found that consumers can’t trust claims of being PFOA-free, especially if the pan was made with Teflon.   Calphalon Nonstick Cookware contains PTFE as noted on their website. 

For consumers who want to avoid PTFE-coated nonstick pans, Consumer Reports recommends cookware made “of ceramic, cast-iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel pans” as all performed well in their testing. 

In conclusion, the banning of Teflon and other nonstick cookware in certain states is primarily driven by health concerns associated with PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals”.  Although Teflon and other nonstick pans are convenient for cooking and cleaning, the potential health risks posed by these chemicals have led states like Minnesota, Colorado, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut to take action. As consumers become more aware of these risks, alternative cookware options such as ceramic, cast-iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel are gaining popularity.  The shift towards safer cookware reflects a growing commitment to health and well-being in the kitchen.

Now that you know what’s happening with Teflon, how do you feel about switching to alternative cookware?

Sources:  The kitchn, time , Happy Pan , Best Frying Pans If You Want to Avoid PFAS Chemicals , researchers , Wall Street Journal , FDA , states , Consumer Reports , Nonstick Cookware , ceramic , cast-iron , carbon steel , stainless steel  Images:  Happy Pan (Image:  Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) , Ceramic vs Teflon