Are scratched Tefal pans safe?
Our researchers work with the constant aim to extend the durability of our coatings so they remain non-stick, safe and scratch free even after years of intensive cooking.
According to Reader's Digest, certain nonstick pans that have been scratched have been compromised and are no longer safe to use. The good news is this really only applies to Teflon pans that were made prior to 2013 and contained Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which had chemicals known to cause cancer.
If you see scratches, that means the nonstick Teflon surface has been compromised and the chemicals could be flaking off into your food. Not good! To be safe, once a pan is scratched it's gotta go.
When your pans are scratched, some of the nonstick coating can flake into your food (the pan also becomes stickier). This can release toxic compounds. What is even more dangerous is cooking in a nonstick pan over high heat (this releases a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid).
Tefal products are reliable and safe for you and the environment! Tefal guarantees clean, non-toxic coatings. Tefal products comply with the strictest public health standards, including European Directives 1935/2004 and Food and Drug Administration Directive- CFR 21.1798. 1550.
Once the Teflon or a similar type of coating on your nonstick pan starts to flake or is scratched, it's time to throw it away. Nonstick pans that are discolored, chipped, or warped should also be appropriately disposed of and replaced.
The one sign that you should definitely get rid of a pot or pan? If the coating on a nonstick pan starts to flake or chip off. Many nonstick pans were once made with a product called Teflon, which was made with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and was considered to be a human carcinogen.
The use of PFOA in the manufacturing of Teflon-coated cookware has been completely stopped. But, even when PFOA is used, it poses little or no harm to your health. Teflon on its own is safe and can't harm you when you ingest it.
What are the health concerns with Teflon? Technically, there are no health concerns with Teflon, specifically. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), “there are no proven risks to humans from using cookware coated with Teflon (or other non-stick surfaces).”
Unless it's a really old Teflon pan then it's fine. The ingredient suspected of causing cancer in Teflon pans wasn't the PTFE itself, but a chemical used in processing Teflon called PFOA which is no longer used after it was banned by the FDA.
