PFOA free nonstick cookware should be healthy cookware, right? It might not be. Consumer advocate Mark Jala issues a warning to all buyers of healthy and safe cookware that just because a cookware advertises as PFOA free that it may not be healthy or safe cookware. The problem lies in that huge companies making millions of dollars on PFOA over the years are not going to stand by and just watch that money go away. DuPont, 3M, and other makers of PFOA have replaced PFOA with another chemical compound. Time will tell just how good, or how bad, it really is.
PFOA in Our Bodies Today
PFOA has been manufactured in industrial quantities since the 1940’s. It is not a new product. It helps create a slick surface. Today, PFOA is applied to pre-treated carpets, carpet care liquids, apparel, upholstery, textiles, medical garments, floor wax and wax removers, tile sealants, food contact paper, dental floss and of course, cookware. Studies show 98% of all people have PFOA in their bloodstream right now.
Imagine you come home from work, tired and exhausted. You take your coat off and walk on your ScotchGuard protected carpet and plop down on your stain resistant sofa. It feels so good to relax. You take in a good deep, relaxing breath. Little did you know that the dust you stirred up walking on the carpet and sitting down on the sofa lifted up tiny particles of PFOA that is now being inhaled in that relaxing deep breath. Congratulations, you are now one of the 98% that has PFOA in your system.
A good history about PFOA and how deceptive the manufacturers have been over time can be found here at Environmental Working Group.
PFOA Free Nonstick Cookware Consumer Warning
Consumer advocate, and founder of www.YourCookwareHelper.com, issues a warning to all buyers of PFOA free nonstick cookware. “If you think the new PFOA free nonstick cookware you are buying is healthy cookware, you may want to look again. DuPont, 3M and other manufacturers of PFOA products have replaced PFOA with another chemical compound. That new chemical compound may be what is in that new cookware you are considering. The bottom line is no one knows the health implications of that new chemical compound. PFOA started being made in the 1940’s and it wasn’t until the late 1990’s to early 2000’s before any action was even considered about PFOA. PFOA will have been in production 75 years before being voluntarily removed from products. How long will it take for the PFOA replacements to be fully vetted for health concerns?” says Mark Jala. “We just don’t know yet about these new products.”
Healthy Cookware Recommendations
Mark Jala recommends, until these new PFOA replacements can be fully vetted, to stick with the known healthy and safe cookware products. These products include:
- Stainless steel
- Ceramic
- Cast iron and enameled cast iron
- Clay
- New variations in “green” cookware
Until the PFOA free nonstick cookware is fully vetted for safety, this website will show on the dashboard the following graphic(this change will be fully implemented in 2014):
For more details on healthy cookware please see the other articles on this site:
- Healthy Cookware and Safe Cookware Trends
- Healthy Nonstick Cookware for Your Health and Cooking
- What is Safe Cookware and Healthy Cookware
- Is Anodized Aluminum Cookware Considered Safe Cookware?
Some of the favorite healthy cookware items recommended on this site include the following:
We eat with our eyes first. Any dish can whet the appetite when served on a nice platter. Pfaltzgraff and Fiesta serving platters make beautiful Christmas gifts that can make any dish look fantastic. I use them when taking pictures of my work for my Home Cooking Academy. There are many beautiful ways to present your masterful, or even ordinary, creations. Find 
Nonstick frying pans wear out. Quickly. It’s always better to replace them before they get too many cuts or peeling. I prefer the 10″ and 12″ combo’s as they are more useful. Here is a quick listing of 
This is a 2-item combo. Each are great, but when given as a gift together, the possibilities are endless. The Nordic Ware baking sheet is very durable. When friends see this they think it’s commercial grade. It is. I love it. The CIA Masters Collection cooling rack is also commercial strength and very strong.
Lodge makes terrific enameled cast iron cookware rivaling the French Le Creuset or Staub and at significantly less money. A 6qt Dutch Oven is a versatile piece of cookware that can be used on top of the stove or in the oven. Lodge enameled cookware makes excellent Christmas gifts! They come in a variety of attractive colors and are a steal at these prices. The price varies depending on color. Pick from a variety of colors. HIGHLY reviewed!
Cast Iron cookware has been a fan favorite for generations, and nothing has changed. Even with all the new styles and nonstick formulations, cast iron cookware remains a fan favorite and very inexpensive. Whether you go native or the enameled variations, cast iron is always a favorite. Here is the full selection of 
Le Creuset enamel cast iron is beautiful and functional. The rich color and even heating characteristics makes this 1.5 quart oval baker a go-to piece of cookware. Baking potato au gratin, warming left-overs, or cooking a small roast is easy with this oven to table cast iron oval baker. A perfect Christmas gift.
All-Clad is the absolute best American stainless steel cookware manufacturer. If you need to get a gift for someone you know who likes to cook and is adventurous, this is a fantastic gift! This is the new D5 brushed stainless steel outside. It has 5 layers to evenly distribute heat. You not only need but also can’t beat stainless steel skillets for saute and deglazing sauces. I recommend folks who want a nonstick cookware set to also get a stainless steel skillet for sauteeing. The 10-piece set gives you all the necessary pieces. No, it is not cheap. If you want the best quality, look no further.
When it comes to healthy or eco-friendly cookware, I love Scanpan. While the surface still uses PTFE in the manufacturing process it is PFOA free and uses an environmentally friendly cast aluminum core. It is a very good nonstick surface given it does not have the PFOA’s. Best of all, it is also dishwasher safe. Scanpan CTX 12-3/4-Inch PFOA Free Fry Pan.
I love Emile Henry Flame Top products. This is the only clay cookware that can be used on the stove top as well as in the stove since the old Cornflower Corningware cookware. It is pretty, useful, and the clay surrounds the food with a steady even heat that is great for braising or slow cooking. This Dutch Oven is very versatile and makes a great presentation from stove to table. Best of all, it looks like an enameled cast iron piece, but it doesn’t weigh a ton like cast iron! All Emile Henry products are wonderful. Here is the 
Every home cook needs a good knife set. Sharp knives are safer. This Definition knife set includes 3″ Paring Knife, 5″ Serrated Utility Knife, 8″ Bread Knife, 5″ Hollow Edge Santoku, 8″ Chef’s Knife, 4x 4.5″ Steak Knife, 9″ Sharpening Steel, Kitchen Shears, and Hardwood Knife Block. This machined knife set is beautiful and perfectly functional.
I love stainless steel for cooking. It is healthy, durable, easy to clean, and dishwasher safe. As I’ve stated before the best brand is All-Clad. Cuisinart Multiclad Pro is next on this list. As you see, All-Clad is premium quality and premium priced. For a near performance equivalent, the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro is unbeatable for performance and price. I use Cuisinart MultiClad Pro and love it. To complete the set I recommend the All-Clad nonstick skillets above or the Scanpan skillet to provide a very complete and dishwasher safe cookware set.
For the discerning cook who wants the best performance and style, Scanpan Classic is it. At around $500 it is not cheap, but it is a great value. The PFOA free nonstick interior is amazing. I use the Classic skillet myself and LOVE it. It works great on flat top stoves. The aluminum core surrounds the food with an even heat that makes cooking a joy. Check it out here:
