Fact Check: Is Nonstick Pan Giving Teflon Flu (image:/unsplash.com/)
According to America’s Poison Centers, a nonprofit organisation, 267 suspected cases of the Teflon Flu reported last year. It is believed to be one of the highest numbers since 2000.
What is Teflon flu? Teflon flu or often referred as ‘polymer fume fever’ is a flu-like illness linked to a chemical coating found on some nonstick pans.
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Teflon and many other nonstick pans are made with a fluoropolymer called as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and it belongs to the class of chemicals known as PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
PTFE provides a nonreactive, nonstick and frictionless surface, making cooking convenient. Also known as “forever chemicals,” they have the ability to persist in the environment for years. Hence, when a non-stick utensil is overheated above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the coating breaks down, releasing the fumes that result in Teflon flu.
The symptoms of Teflon flu include fever, cough, headache, dizziness, fatigue, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, and muscle and joint aches. Mostly, individuals recover from the flu within a few days, although severe outcomes such as death or permanent disability are rare. Since its symptoms are similar to those of the common cold or flu, a proper diagnosis is challenging.
Health experts advise to heat the nonstick with oil, butter or water so as to avoid overheating and breaking down of chemicals within the coating. The use of wooden or silicon ladles instead of stainless steel or hard utensils can also prevent the wearing off of the coating.
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In addition, ventilate the kitchen as much as possible to get rid of fumes. “If there’s smoke in the kitchen, for whatever reason, “you shouldn’t be breathing that smoke,” no matter where it’s coming from,” The Washington Post quotes as Horowitz, of the Oregon-Alaska-Guam Poison Center is saying. Experts suggest that it is always advisable to avoid the source of the fumes.
