Every day millions of people cook on non -stick pans and use food packaging and cleaning products, without thinking too much. However, what many ignore is that some of these objects contain pfas, chemicals so persistent as to be nicknamed in the USA ‘Forever Chemicals‘. These molecules are dangerous and several studies have connected them to an increased risk of several health problems.
And while Europe seems to do – at least in part – back on an extended ban on the use of PFAS (also read: goodbye pfas? The EU marches the ban on eternal pollutants in these 8 sectors), there is a state that is taking a clear position against these compounds.
This is California, where the bill 682 of the Senate (SB 682) aims to gradually eliminate these chemicals from the pots and non -stick pans, cleaning products, walker, ski slope, food packaging and more.
The bill establishes precise times for the prohibition: food packaging must be without PFAS by 2028, while the non -stick pots will have time until 2030 to adapt, with some categories of cleaning products that must respect the legislation by 2031.
The declared goal is to reduce the exposure of citizens to persistent chemicals, however guaranteeing sufficient time to producers to adapt.
Parliament has already approved the law that now, to become effective, will have to be signed by the Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until 12 October.
Pfas and health risks
Pfas are widely used in the industry for their resistance to heat, water and fats, but their persistence in the environment makes them dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)almost all Americans have pfas in the blood. Exposure to these substances has been connected to infertility, infantile development problems, hormonal imbalances, weakening of the immune system and some types of cancer.
Precisely these health risks constitute the main motivation of the Californian law: the bill 682 of the Senate explicitly cites as its objective the reduction of the exposure of the population to “eternal” chemicals present in the pots, in food packaging and in other products of everyday use. The gradual elimination of the PFAS therefore aims to protect public health and the environment, favoring the safety of citizens with respect to the industrial use of these substances.
The reactions of chef and industry
The prohibition proposal has triggered contrasting reactions. The Alliance Sustainability Cookware, a group of producers and pots of pots, has mobilized famous chefs such as Rachael Ray, Thomas Keller, Marcus Samuelsson and David Chang to oppose the law. They argue that the coatings in PTFE (Teflon) are safe if they are produced and used correctly.
Rachael Ray wrote:
I respect and share the desire to protect the Californians and our planet, but I urge you to carefully evaluate the science before proceeding with legislation that could involuntarily do more bad than well.
Steve Burns, executive director of the Alliance Sustainability Cookware, added that:
The teflon coating around a non -stick pan is a fluoropolympus. Technically it falls within the Pfas family, but fluoropolymers have shown for decades to be inert and not harmful.
Some chefs also argue that prohibiting non -stick pots may make cooking more difficult and expensive for families, compromising the possibility of preparing nitrous meals at home.
The position of environmentalists
On the other hand, groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Working Group have supported the ban, underlining how marked or overheated pans or overheated pans can release PFAS particles or fumes, which end up in food or are inhaled.
According to Anna Reade, director of the ADVOCAcy Pfas of the NRDC, the PTFE is basically a plasticized form of the PFAS. Although some chemical variants have been eliminated by industry, the risks to human health persist.
The expert explained that when the PTFE flakes or is rubbed, it fragments into very small pieces, and the studies indicate that scratched pans can release microplastics that contaminate food.
Towards safer alternatives
There are already practicable and safe alternatives: stainless steel pots, cast iron and other PFAS -free materials can effectively replace traditional non -stick pots.
With the possible approval of the law, California would become one of the first states to prohibit these “eternal” chemicals with daily life, creating a possible precedent also for other states or nations of the world.
Sources: Legislative California Information
