Teflon or polytetrafluroehtylene (PTFE) is a popular coating used on cookware and is called non stick cookware. When it came out in the 1960s, it was considered revolutionary and healthy. Over the years and many research studies later, today, the opinion on Teflon-coated utensils is that these utensils could be potentially harmful to use.
When these coated instruments were introduced, they were not only touted as healthy to use because you did not need to use any oil or fat, but also easy to clean. Once you started using these pans, you realised that the coating was far too easily damaged by spatulas and other metal spoons. That further reduced the life of the pan.
The chemical that is used in this coating is called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and this chemical has shown that it can cause cancers in animals. That it is a carcinogenic in humans has not been proven conclusively by research. Teflon or PFOA has also been linked to birth defects, again in animals.
But the other side to this argument is that PFOA is also found many other aspects of our lives include microwave popcorn, stain-free carpets and even in shampoos and conditioners, so just ruling out non-stick cookware might not be the solution. PFOA tends to linger in the bloodstream for a long time which is why the warning bells were sounded.
Teflon and health is a little dubious. Teflon coating was launched with the plan to use less oil because on the non-stick coating on the vessel. The long term effects of the coating and the chemicals generated by that coating are still to be determined so it does seem like the whole healthy angle to non-stick might not be entirely true.
So, is PTFE dangerous? One cannot answer that question without stating the caveats of Teflon. Most government agencies across the world say Teflon is safe to use in the kitchen but most independent research firms are constantly coming up with new research findings that say Teflon is dangerous and toxic to be used in the kitchen. Teflon coated utensils have never been recalled in any market for the danger they apparently pose.
If you are wondering what the dangers of Teflon coating are, let’s look at some of the research that has been undertaken. Some extreme testing on Teflon pots and pans has also shown that there is no leakage into the food. But you should not leave Teflon pans unattended while heating. If left unattended and empty, a Teflon pan can reach the temperature of 383°C in a matter of minutes. Though Teflon is not believed to be dangerous while cooking, it wouldn’t hurt if you took some precautions.
Heated, the fumes given out by Teflon coating can be unhealthy. The fumes could potentially make you dizzy. Try and keep your kitchen well ventilated. If you inhale too many of these fumes, you could get something called polymer fume flu.
The fumes from a heated or over heated non stick piece of cookware can also cause the death of a bird so you might want to keep your pet birds away. To use a non-stick pan correctly, it’s important not to pre-heat it and use it on low to medium heat. You should also take care to ensure that food or fat does not burn in it.
The company that manufactures Teflon coated cookware promises that when the cookware is used properly, it remains inert but also plans to phase out PFOA by 2015. That fact that this polymer does so much long term damage to the environment makes one thing about certain that long term use of Teflon certainly has repercussions.
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