Executive Cookware Safety: Dupont Teflon

[chefani]

I have a friend/customer who recently completed treatment for breast cancer. She really wants to purchase a quality set of cookware from TPC and likes the idea of the Executive cookware, however, there is still a lot of crazy information out there on the web about the safety of DuPont Teflon.

Does anyone have any safety info on it or know if TPC has any safety statements regarding the Executive Cookware?
Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[esavvymom]

My suggestion would be just to email HO. I think you can email the Test Kitchens and they will give you the authoritive word on the product. In CC, (old system), go to Managing your Business -> Home Office Contacts -> Email Home Office. Then select "Test Kitchen".I'm sure there is info out there (look at the "similar threads" below at the bottom of this page...you'll find some there too). But going to the source will be the guaranteed way (and probably faster).I'd be curious what they say though too...love it if you could post their response.

 

[pamperedlinda]

I'm curious too. For years I've been told that Pampered Chef Executive cookware is NOT Teflon, it's made by Dupont but, not Teflon. Ours is Autograph 2. Well...in looking up Autograph 2, it's in the category of Dupont Teflon??? I'm confused now! http://www2.dupont.com/Teflon/en_US/products/cookware_coatings/decide_which_one.html Click on the last link, bottom right and you will see Pampered Chef listed as a retailer.

or http://www2.dupont.com/Teflon/en_US/assets/downloads/pdf/h93585_Autograph2_fact_sheet.pdf very bottom of fact sheet says Dupont Teflon finishes.

 

[chefani]

Thanks for the great idea Bobbi; I will do that. In the interim, I did find some more information from 2006 here on CS. There is even a letter from HO that includes the following information:"Earlier this week Dupont pledged its commitment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to eliminate the emissions of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from its Teflon® manufacturing facilities by 2015. Yesterday it was reported by the Chicago Tribune and other news agencies that both the EPA and Dupont agreed that consumers who use cookware with Teflon® coating can be confident that the products are safe to use. On its website, Dupont reports that rigorous scientific testing has shown that PFOA is not released from Teflon® non-stick cookware even under some extreme cooking conditions. According to DuPont, studies show that even when cookware coated with Teflon® was scratched with a knife, no PFOA was detected under typical consumer use conditions."http://www.chefsuccess.com/f8/news-about-teflon-5416/In my further research on PFOAs, it seems that PFOAs are contained in MANY products such as microwave popcorn packing, some candy packaging, stain-resistent carpet, etc. So there is really no way to get away from it...no wonder the studies show that PFOAs show up in 95% Amercian's blood stream! But as is stated in a few articles I read, the main issue is PFOAs in the air from the MANUFACTURING of Teflon products...not in the products themselves.If I hear anything more, I will post back here again.

 

[esavvymom]

Given her health issues, I can understand her concerns (I would too!). Perhaps she could consider the white ceramic pans we now have! They are "quick-release".On CC, PC has a Cookware guide that talks about the three types. That might be worth reviewing for yourself so you can talk to her about her choices. I only use non-stick skillets. Saucepans and stockpots are typically my SS collection. Occasionally a non-stick skillet if I'm doing something like cheese sauce, etc. But look at how she cooks. What does she use now? maybe she'd do well with a SS set, and then add 1-2 skillets from the White Ceramic line for most of her non-stick cooking.

 

[DebPC]

There is so much mis-information out there. Sometimes the internet is a blessing and sometimes it's a curse.