An uptick of cases of an illness related to the use of nonstick cookware known as "Teflon Flu" have been reported of late, according to reports . More than 250 cases of Teflon Flue, which is a reference to the trademarked chemical compound used to make the popular nonstick coating, were reported in the past year -- the most since 2000. So what is Teflon Flu and are nonstick pans safe to use? The answer is mostly yes, as long as your pans were made after a certain year and you use them properly.
What is Teflon Flu? Polymer fume fever or "Teflon Flu" has reignited a debate about nonstick cookware safety. The illness occurs when fumes from an overheated Teflon or nonstick pan are inhaled. Nonstick pans are made with polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE).
PTFE's are known as "forever chemicals" since they take hundreds of years to break down. Under normal use, PTFE's aren't thought to cause a health risk, but when heated to above 500 degrees F, can cause increased emissions and the resulting polymer fume fever. Polymer fume fever causes a range of reported symptoms including fever, chills, muscle tension and headache.
Symptoms of Teflon Flu are temporary and generally start within 12 hours of exposure but can take up to 24 hours to take hold. How to avoid Teflon Flu Teflon and nonstick cookware is easy to use, clean and maintain but it should only be used for low to medium heat cooking. Never heat your nonstick cookware over high heat or medium heat for long periods of tim.