Latest News

Information on safety of non-stick cookware

 

March 2007

In general, non-stick cookware contains a surface chemical coating. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is the homopolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and is used as an ingredient in the coating on non-stick cookware.

There has been considerable interest in the possibility of adverse health effects following exposure to fumes released when non-stick coated cookware is used for cooking. However, fumes are released only when cookware is heated to extremely high temperatures (340°C to 650°C) which in fact would incinerate food. There are claims that non-stick coatings contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which is released when coated cookware is heated to temperatures above 180°C. However available evidence indicates that no PFOA would be released from cookware at or below normal cooking temperatures.

A research paper released in early 2007 reports that, under experimental conditions, PFOA was detected at trace levels in air collected just above some non-stick pans which were heated to higher-than-normal cooking temperatures; the level of PFOA was very low and not expected to cause any adverse health effects.

As general good practice, consumers are advised not to overheat empty non-stick pans or leave them unattended on the stovetop (especially at high settings). Based on information currently available, there is no risk to the health of consumers using non-stick cookware under normal cooking conditions.

NICNAS continues to monitor new data as it becomes available.

 

More information

See NICNAS Alert 6 (PDF 87Kb)