FAQ's
Q – What is PFOA?
A – PFOA stands for perfluorooctanoic acid. PFOA is used in the process to produce PTFE non-stick coating. PFOA is not part of the finished non-stick coating. During the curing process for T-Fal’s non-stick (PTFE) cookware, the gaseous PFOA emissions are captured and disposed of using incinerators. PFOA does not usually remain in cookware after manufacture.
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Q – Is PFOA dangerous?
A – An independent science review panel in the US has recommended that PFOA be considered "likely to be carcinogenic" based on laboratory studies in rats. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also determined that PFOA is 'likely' to cause cancer in rats.
Nevertheless, in 2006, the chemical industry voluntarily agreed to a U.S. EPA plan that will reduce and eventually eliminate any PFOA contents in products.
Health Canada has concluded that “There is no risk of exposure to PFOA from using cooking utensils and equipment with non-stick coatings.”
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Q – Is PFOA present in T-Fal cookware?
A – No. PFOA has never been detected in any of T-Fal’s non-stick cookware. Through a process known as sintering, T-Fal is able to eliminate all traces of PFOA from its cookware products following the manufacturing process.
In 2003, three independent analysis conducted by three different laboratories found no detectable levels of PFOA in T-Fal’s non-stick cookware products.
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Q – What is T-Fal’s non-stick coating made of and is it safe?
A – T-Fal’s line of non-stick cookware is 100 percent safe, reliable and efficient.
T-Fal cookware is made with a safe plastic polymer called polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). This is the slippery ingredient that creates the non-stick finish. Health authorities in Europe, the United States and other countries have approved the non-stick PTFE coating used on T-Fal cookware.
Health authorities have found that PTFE is an inert substance that does not enter into chemical reactions with food, water or household cleaners. If ingested, PTFE is totally innocuous in the body.
In fact, PTFE is so safe that it is often used by the medical profession for coating heart stimulators and small pipes used as replacement arteries. It has also been injected into patients with serious kidney conditions.
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Q – Why do media reports state that non-stick coatings are dangerous?
A – The media wrongly group non-stick coatings as a synonym for PFOA. These stories are inaccurate and misleading, and contribute to misinformation being placed into the public domain.
Health Canada has also examined various non-stick coatings and concluded that they are safe and pose no threat to consumers. The fact is that the PTFE non-stick coating used on T-Fal cookware is 100 percent safe for consumers.
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Q – Has PTFE been approved outside of Canada?
A – Yes. Health authorities in Europe, the United States, Japan, China and many other countries have approved the non-stick PTFE coating used on T-Fal cookware.
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Q – What else should I know about T-fal products and non-stick coatings?
A – Detailed information about T-Fal products, non-stick coatings and safety are available on the T-Fal Canada website and this microsite. Consumers can also contact T-Fal Canada directly if they have further questions. Instructions on how to safely use T-Fal cookware can be found at: /tefal/PFOA/nonStick.asp
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Q – Where else can I go for information on non-stick coatings?
A – Additional information about non-stick coatings can be found through the links on the Additional Information section of this microsite.
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