Is Teflon Safe?

Don't worry - it won't hurt you
This entire article was largely prompted by a sensationalist piece that I read on the internet, telling everyone how bad Teflon is and about all of the health risks it allegedly poses.
A bit of history
Ok, Teflon is actually just a trade name, from Dupont the chemical company that owns the formula. What we are really talking about is:
Poly-Tetra-Flouro-Ethylene (PTFE)
It is quite simply the slipperiest substance known to man.
Like so many things, it was invented by accident. In this case by a chemist called Ray Plunkett, who was trying to do something completely different and ended up with the polymer PTFE in 1938.
Sine then it has been used for all sorts of things, including electronics, aeronautics, clothing, industrial machinery, on the space shuttle, in atomic bombs, and of course for non-stick cookware.
So, is it safe?
The fact is that Teflon is not only the slipperiest thing know to man, but also one of the most inert substances that we’ve come up with. In a stable state it is completely non-toxic, any possible problems only arise when you heat it to temperatures over 260°c.
At these temperatures, Teflon starts to break down, and this can lead to the release of some potentially dangerous chemical fumes. These fumes are toxic to birds, and could induce some flu like symptoms in humans. Most people don’t get their cookware anywhere near 260°c at home, so this isn’t going to be a huge problem.
If you do need to cook at very high temperatures, then there is really no need to use non-stick pans, as any metal pan becomes naturally non-stick when it reaches high enough temperatures anyway.
Is Teflon a carcinogen?
There have also been some concerns about whether or not Teflon contributes to cancer.
The reality is that PTFE itself is not a carcinogen, but that one of the chemical compounds that is used during its manufacture, called POFA, may be.
This is really only worth even thinking about if you work in a factory making Teflon, not if you are using it to cook with. Statistics show that you are more likely to find traces of POFA in your carpet than you are in your frying pan.
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April 28th, 2009 at 2:05 am
John – Glad to see the very accurate information you have posted on your blog about Teflon. I’m actually a representative of DuPont, and am always glad to see comments like this out there about Teflon, considering how much inaccurate information there is. Teflon should not be overheated and there should always be food in the pan when heating it. It is also a good idea to keep birds out of the kitchen, as they have very sensitive respiratory systems. Thanks for sharing this information.
I’d be glad to share some recipe booklets or other information for you’re blog if you are interested. Let me know. Cheers, Ross.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Thanks Ross,
I have a couple of questions about Teflon that you might be able to help me with, I’ll get in touch with you.
John
June 14th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Thanks for the great cooking information .
September 24th, 2009 at 5:39 am
I am so glad to have read this article. I went to a seminar last night and there they explained the DANGERS of having teflon pans. I am now glad to see that it is well safe and I will continue to use my non-stick pans. Thanks!
September 26th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Hi Xochilt – I’m really glad that you found the information useful.
I hate scare mongering when there is really no reason. The simple fact is that in domestic usage Teflon pans are perfectly safe.
They might conceivably be bad for any pet birds if you overheat them, but then why on earth would you have birds in your kitchen?