Teflon® is a brand name and a registered trademark of DuPont. Teflon® is not PFOA. The improper use of the Teflon® brand as a synonym for PFOA is not only inaccurate and misleading to consumers but also constitutes a trademark violation. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), also known as C-8, is an essential processing aid used to make fluoropolymers--high performance plastics manufactured by a number of companies. PFOA and Teflon® are entirely different--one is a processing aid, the other is a product brand. It is also inaccurate to describe PFOA as an ingredient in Teflon® cookware.
A published, peer-reviewed study (April 2005) in Environmental Science & Technology [.pdf] found no PFOA in cookware with Teflon® non-stick. No PFOA was detected even when the cookware was scratched with a knife. Studies using FDA standard testing methods also found no detectable levels of PFOA in non-stick coatings used for cookware sold under the Teflon® brand. The Danish Technical Institute and China Academy of Inspection and Quarantine tested Teflon® cookware and did not detect PFOA.
However, according to a recently published study conducted by researchers at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), PFOA was detected in minute quantities in cookware using extreme and abusive test methods--methods that do not reflect what happens when consumers use cookware. The quantities of PFOA detected through these extreme measures were too small to measure migration of the PFOA out of the cookware. Published, peer-reviewed research clearly shows that cookware is safe for consumer use.
Consumers can use their cookware with complete confidence.
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Based on an evaluation of human health and toxicology studies, DuPont concludes that PFOA exposure does not pose a cancer risk or any health risk to the general public. There is no significant potential for exposure to PFOA from using products made with DuPont materials; hence, there is no risk to consumers.
A published study (April 2005) in Environmental Science & Technology [.pdf] concluded the use of consumer products made with or using DuPont materials, some sold under the Teflon® brand, would not result in quantifiable levels of PFOA in the blood of people. The study evaluated combined potential public exposure to PFOA from dozens of consumer products.
The margins-of-safety for all articles tested ranged from 30,000 to over 9 billion, which dramatically exceeds the margins-of-safety of 100 to 1,000 typically used by regulatory agencies to judge the safety of chemicals.
Reputable, independent scientists conducted and reviewed the study published in Environmental Science & Technology.
Environ, an independent research firm, conducted the $1 million study, which was paid for by DuPont. The study was evaluated for scientific validity by an independent panel of scientists moderated by Dr. George Gray, executive director of the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.
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Studies by DuPont and others, using U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard testing methods, found no detectable levels of PFOA in non-stick coatings used for cookware--including those sold under the Teflon® brand. However, according to a published study conducted by researchers at the FDA, PFOA was detected in minute quantities in cookware using extreme and abusive test methods--methods that do not reflect what happens when consumers use cookware. The quantities of PFOA detected through these extreme measures were too small to measure migration of the PFOA out of the cookware.
The China General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine (GAQSIQ), the Danish Technological Institute and the Environ Consumer Article Study (sponsored by DuPont) all confirm that there would be no quantifiable exposure to PFOA from the use of non-stick cookware. Independent scientists and governmental agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conclude that cookware with non-stick coatings are safe for consumer use. This includes Teflon® brand non-stick coatings.
The Food & Drug Administration has found non-stick coatings acceptable for conventional kitchen use. Also, in 2003 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission rejected a petition to require a label warning for non-stick coatings. Health regulatory agencies across the globe have approved the use of Teflon® cookware.
The EPA's Susan Hazen is quoted as saying, "We have consistently said that the information which we have in front of us would not indicate any concern for consumers continuing to use household products."
EPA and its Scientific Advisory Board are working to determine the health risks associated with exposure to PFOA through its presence in the environment. They are not examining the safety of consumer products sold under the Teflon® brand. EPA's position: "EPA does not believe there is any reason for consumers to stop using any consumer or industrial related products."
The American Heart Association recommends cooking with "non-stick cookware so you can cook with a minimum of oil or vegetable oil spray" and "create a healthier diet without losing out on flavor." Also, the National Stroke Association recommends using non-stick cookware: "If sauteing something, use non-stick cookware and a non-stick spray." Karen Benedek, a leading advisor to government and appliance manufacturers on cooking safety, says "In over 70 percent of range top fires, it's the oil, fat, grease or food itself that ignites. The less fat, the smaller the fire. Because non-stick cookware requires less fat for cooking, it can help reduce dangers in the kitchen."
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