Introduction
Recently, I noticed my cookware is ready to be retired and replaced. I’ve had it for at least 15 years and it wasn’t the greatest. After learning about PFAS from my recent blog about the safety of water, I knew I needed to do some research before purchasing any pots or pans.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are also called, “forever chemicals” because they take a very long time to break down in the body and carry significant health risks. They are found in many places but in this blog, my focus is on cookware because that’s where they originated from.
These chemicals were discovered in 1938 in what you may be familiar with now known as Teflon (nonstick) pots and pans. These are synthetic chemicals that don’t disintegrate completely in the environment or in your body.
Health tip: Low levels of “forever chemicals” can cause health effects too, not just high levels. These chemicals build up over time in the blood.
I must admit nonstick cookware is very convenient for cooking and cleanup, but it comes with a price—your health. Who knew? (The company who discovered Teflon knew!)
In this blog post, I review why you should be concerned about what you cook your food in. This is not a guide on purchasing cookware (a quick search on the internet can help you do that – with some confusion 😊) but rather an examination of the types of cookware that are safer for your health than cookware coated with PFAS.
Why are PFAS harmful?
The more exposure to PFAS, the riskier it is to develop health issues. There have been increased health risks to kidney and liver disease, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, and testicular cancer. If you have any of these health issues, it doesn’t mean it came from your cookware, however, if you have cookware made from PFAS—it doesn’t help. That said, you do have control over what type of cookware you use.
Not only are water and nonstick cookware contaminated, but fish that swim in water exposed to PFAS can impair your health. There’s a sign posted at a park in Milford, Michigan that states, “Do Not Eat Fish” because the fish can be contaminated with high levels of PFAS coming from the Huron River out of Lake Erie. This was posted in 2018 and nothing has been done to address it. This is a global problem, not just exclusive to Michigan. (More on fish in a future blog!)
Teflon (nonstick) cookware & your health
DuPont and 3M are the leading manufacturers of Teflon, earning a trademark in 1945. The first nonstick cookware dates back as far as 1961 in the US. A DuPont study in 1961 revealed that Teflon caused enlarged livers in rats. A scientist warned that the material used to make Teflon should be “handled with care” and to avoid skin contact due to the chemicals. In 1970, PFAS was discovered and found to be highly toxic if inhaled or ingested.
DuPont knew about the findings but decided to stay silent. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the general public discovered the health risks.
In 1994, human studies on the employees who worked for the manufacturing plants were conducted and revealed that the chemicals in the blood could stay anywhere from 1 ½ years to 3 years but claimed no adverse health effects except an increased risk for prostate cancer. What??
Think Erin Brockovich! A movie about real-life residents living in a small town in California exposed to a chemical (chromium 6) to prevent rust, that was being dumped into the town’s water supply thus contaminating the water and making residents extremely sick. Three decades later, residents still suffer from the exposure. That’s just one chemical!
Check out the attorney who took on DuPont and later made into a movie, “Dark Waters” based on a true story about DuPont…
Caution on claims of non-toxic cookware
When shopping for cookware that doesn’t contain PFAS, read the claims carefully on the box of cookware. PFSA-free may be misleading because “free” can mean the amount of PFSA is below a specific level but still contains it in the cookware.
Check out the company’s website and contact them for more information. You can also look at Consumer Reports or search the internet for more information from other bloggers who’ve dug deeper into this subject about the safety of cookware.
Health tip: Fumes from cookware that contain PFAS when heated are toxic too.
Safe cookware
If your cookware is scraped, scratched, or has a Teflon coating it might be time to think about replacing your pots, pans, and skillets. There’s no reason to purchase an entire set all at once as it could be expensive when replacing it with a higher quality product. Besides, do you use all the pots and pans in a set? Most people use about 2-3 pots or pans out of the entire set so your money is wasted when you’re not utilizing all the cookware.
Assess which pot, pan, or skillet you use the most and if it needs to be replaced. If so, look for carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic pans. Ceramic pans or coated ceramic pans are generally made of silicon dioxide and other metal oxides, not PFAS. However, not all are created equally.
Pro tip: Ceramic cookware is made from metal, not ceramic.
To save money, replace one at a time and try a different metal. You may find you like cooking with cast iron over carbon steel. Your cookware doesn’t need to match even if you’re displaying it as long as it’s functional, safe, and easy to use for you.
There are so many brands of cookware to choose from. It’s a matter of personal choice, quality, and price point. I suggest searching the internet for some reviews on whatever type of pan you’re interested in such as ceramic or stainless steel. Some brands I researched are Made-In and All-Clad. (I have no affiliation with any companies.)
Best cast iron cookware according to a kitchen expert found here.
Health tip: Cast iron and carbon steel skillets will become like nonstick pans over time.
Conclusion
Cookware can influence your health, positively or negatively. You have the option to decide which type of cookware you use to impact your well-being. At the very least, inspect your collection to determine which one you use the most and assess if it needs to be replaced.
Once you’ve decided which pot or skillet you’ll replace, you can start some research on the brands I suggested to help you settle on what type you’ll cook with. Try at least one metal you don’t own.
In optimal health,
Lisa