PFAS-Free Cooking
REASON 1
What are PFAS?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemical compounds. They’re not a natural part of our ecosystem: scientists developed them to make products water-, grease- and dirt-repellent. Today, they’re a common component of everyday items like certain kinds of rain coats, food packaging, some cosmetics, textiles and various types of non-stick pans.
It takes an incredibly long time for PFAS to be broken down, with some probably only disappearing after a thousand years. Almost all PFAS that were ever released into the environment still linger on our planet to this day.
REASON 2
So how do PFAS enter our bodies?
When making the PTFE dispersions that go into conventional non-stick coatings, PFAS emissions can end up in the air, the water, the earth and in the food chain, eventually making their way onto our plates. Just think of the fish, meat, fruit and vegetables we consume every day, or the water that comes from our kitchen taps. That’s how these PFAS, which we can’t get rid of, accumulate in our bodies.
REASON 3
The Consequences?
Because of the way some manufactures have been producing PFAS for years, these days almost everyone’s blood contains PFAS. And that’s not the end of it: research has revealed pregnant women pass on these chemicals to their unborn children, so PFAS are even found in the blood of new-born babies. Studies also show that some PFAS damage our immune system and can be linked to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, fertility problems and cancer.
REASON 4
The Good News?
There is a solution, because alternatives exist, Thermolon™, the original healthy ceramic nonstick coating. It’s simply a matter of making smart choices. As long as we keep buying the old products that contain PFAS, their production will continue – with all the risks that entails for our health and the planet.