Why You Should Throw Away Your Non-Stick Cookware

Practically every home across America has a non-stick pan in their kitchen. They are easy to cook with and even easier to clean. However, there are some hidden dangers lurking in non-stick cookware you should be aware of before you continue to use them.

1. Perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA). This chemical is found in the Teflon used to create the non-stick surface is a likely carcinogen, and is manufactured mostly by the DuPont Corporation. Du Pont has been asked by the EPA to stop using the chemical and they have also financially supported investigations for more than 60,000 reported cases of health endangerment. The EPA claims that 9 out of 10 Americans have some level of PFOA in their bloodstreams, which is also commonly used for microwave popcorn. As if this wasn't enough, the EPA is also investigating DuPont for allegedly covering up information which proves PFOA is detrimental to human health. The only reason this chemical has not yet been labeled illegal is that it has only proved to be toxic in rats, not humans. Isn't that reassuring?

2. Cast iron provides a natural source of iron. Believe it or not, when you use a cast iron pan for cooking, iron naturally seeps into the food. This method is an especially helpful way to get iron in your diet without altering the taste or quality of the food. Holidaycook.com reports that nearly 65-75% OF Americans don't get enough iron in their diet, and this makes sense when you think about how cookware has changed over the years. Early settlers used only cast iron cookware, and today most people have replaced it with non-stick.

3. Overheating non-stick cookware kills birds. You read it correctly, it can kill birds. DuPont actually admit son their Teflon website that the fumes released when overheating occurs can not only kill birds but cause flu-like symptoms in humans. DuPont claims that the fumes are only emitted when the surface deteriorates. Unless you have some type of special equipment in your household that can detect exactly when the Teflon surface deteriorates, I would strongly suggest using alternative cookware if you have birds in the house. At least now you have a reason the next time your spouse thinks you're trying to get out of cooking because you feel sick.

After reading this article I hope you will see that the negatives to using non-stick cookware clearly outweigh the positives. In addition to the above mentioned downfalls, new studies are being conducted by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggesting that the chemicals found in non-stick cookware can also reduce birth weight and size. If you are pregnant or have birds as pets, I strongly urge you to immediately reconsider your use of this type of cookware. Everyone else should also consider their use of these pans and replace them with healthier alternatives as soon as possible.