Medical experts have raised concerns that a common kitchen staple might be more detrimental to our health than beneficial, due to the presence of persistent “forever chemicals” linked to cancer.
These chemicals, technically known as PFAS, comprise over 10,000 synthetic compounds that do not break down and remain in the human body indefinitely once consumed.
Found in items ranging from fast food wrappers and non-stick cookware to cosmetics and certain waterproof textiles, the substances have been associated with various health issues.
Recent studies suggest a connection between PFAS and diseases such as thyroid cancer, type 2 diabetes, and even delaying puberty in young girls.
Now, some healthcare professionals are cautioning against the use of non-stick pans, a common fixture in homes nationwide, due to their potentially hazardous coatings.
Non-stick pans typically feature a Teflon coating to prevent food from adhering, making them easier to clean. Despite their convenience, warnings from health authorities about their safety persist.
Dr Eric Berg, an American ketogenic nutritionist from Virginia, took to TikTok to explain why he believes people should abandon non-stick frying pans.
He warned: “They have what’s called ‘forever chemicals’ which are called PFAS. And unfortunately, these forever chemicals stay in our body forever while they slowly poison us. They affect our endocrine system, our brains, our immune system.
“Don’t ask me why they’re generally recognised as safe because they’re not safe.”
Echoing these concerns is Dr Yvonne Burkart, a toxicologist based in San Diego, California, who asserted that studies have revealed that even a single scratch on a non-stick pan can emit up to 9,000 forever chemicals.
Speaking to Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett, Dr Burkart explained: “If you’ve ever had a non-stick piece of cookware, it scratches very easily. And some of these scratches are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye.
“Studies have found that a surface scratch can release [approximately] 9,000 particles from that non-stick coating into your food.”
Dr Burkart later underscored the potential health hazards associated with forever chemicals, linking them to “several types of cancers”, “thyroid disorders”, and pregnancy complications, reports the Express.
“We then have increased risk of miscarriage, pre-term labour, pre-term birth, pre-eclampsia (which is high blood pressure during pregnancy) – that could be deadly,” she warned.
In a study conducted by Australian researchers in 2022, the dangers of PFAS in non-stick cookware were highlighted. A single blemish on such cookware was discovered to release 9,100 forever chemicals, while cracked non-stick items were capable of discharging as many as 2.3 million microplastics and nanoplastics.
Last July, researchers from Qassim University in Saudi Arabia showed that the Teflon coating on non-stick pans starts to deteriorate and peel away at 240C, with toxic gases forming at temperatures of 280C.
For those looking for safer options, the website Healthline has recommended several alternatives:
- Stainless steel – such products are durable, scratch-resistant and dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean
- Cast-iron cookware – usually non-stick when seasoned properly, can last a long time and can withstand temperatures well above those considered safe for non-stick pots and pans
- Stoneware – used for thousands of years, it heats evenly, scratch-resistant and can be heated to very high temperatures.
- Ceramic cookware – lauded for its non-stick properties, but the coating can be easily scratched
- Silicone cookware – better suited to baking as it does not stand up well to direct heat
Chemours, the American chemical giant that manufactures Teflon, stated on its website: “We take very seriously our obligation to manage the PFAS compounds in our manufacturing processes in a responsible manner and our commitment to eliminate at least 99% of PFAS air and water emissions from our manufacturing processes by 2030.
“Chemours is leading the industry as the first company in chemical manufacturing to make this public commitment.”