What is PFAS?

PFAS is an abbreviation for a family of chemicals called Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances, this substance is often used in non-stick cookware, they are feared for their potential toxicity which has been linked to cancers and other adverse effects. There is a chance that this substance is also present in your non-stick frying pan. Frying pans with toxic non-stick coatings have been mass produced and sold by major cooking brands for decades.

We would like to explain to you exactly what this substance is, how it came into being and, more importantly, how you can avoid contact with this dangerous substance.

The safe frying pan Jazz (PFAS free) from Cook and Pan

How did the toxic PFAS substance come into being?

These chemicals are synthetic and do not occur naturally in the environment. They were originally discovered in 1938 when a chemist working on coolants accidentally created a slippery white substance that would later lead to the creation of the Teflon brand of non-stick pans and pots. Chances are you have heard of Teflon, they have produced and applied many (toxic) non-stick coatings to frying pans and skillets from major brands such as Tefal.

How is PFAS toxic?

PFAS chemicals are perhaps best known for their use in nonstick cookware. The Teflon brand revolutionized these products. PFAS use is widespread across many brands of nonstick cookware.

This is why many people – worldwide – and therefore also in the Netherlands have bought pans with this harmful non-stick coating. During cooking, these chemicals can be released and end up in your dish. You ingest this substance unknowingly during dinner with your loved ones. Something you would rather not think about, but it is important to think about.

Health experts are concerned about these persistent chemicals , which have two characteristics: They are bioaccumulative, meaning they build up in living tissue, and they are toxic, meaning they harm living organisms such as humans, animals and plants .

The US government has done extensive research into this and it turns out that the toxic substance PFAS and PFOS, which is found in the non-stick coating of cooking pots, was present in more than 98% (!) of Americans! Large and numerous studies in highly exposed populations have linked these substances to health effects, including ulcerative colitis, diagnosed high cholesterol, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. So it's time for change, and it's here!

Pans free from PFAS

Fortunately, there is a solution! Pans without a toxic non-stick coating that allow you to cook safely. These pans are also easily recyclable and do not harm the environment. All Cook and Pan pans have a ceramic non-stick coating that is guaranteed to be 100% free of PFAS. So you can enjoy the handy advantages that a high-quality non-stick coating brings without having to worry about toxic substances in your food!

At Cook and Pan you can buy a sustainable and healthy frying pan , wok or roasting pan for the same price as a pan with a toxic non-stick coating. Then the choice is quickly made, choose healthy!

If you have any questions about different non-stick coatings or just want to say hello, you can do so via info@cookandpan.nl