Indian women: rethink non-stick cookware and beware of teflon flu

From the olden days, we have heard and learned that cooking in earthen pottery, brass utensils, etc was good for health. Even in some households, iron utensils were also used, which had many health benefits.

However, over time, with technological advancements, our eating habits changed along with our utensils. Nowadays, most families use aluminum utensils for cooking, and those who are health-conscious choose Teflon-coated utensils, famously known as non-stick utensils.

I believe every house today uses Teflon-coated utensils since they help to cook food with little or no oil contents; very few people, however, do realize that these Teflon-coated utensils can be harmful to our health. They can cause many serious health issues, including “Teflon flu”. Teflon flu, sometimes also called polymer fume fever, is a condition in which humans fall ill because of exposure to fumes from pans treated with PTFE, according to the National Capital Poison Center, US. This happens when a pan has been on a burner too long and has either gotten too hot or run dry, thus emitting minute airborne particles that can be inhaled and contain metallic oxides, reports the Missouri Poison Center. Those suffering from Teflon flu may experience symptoms that run a gamut from fever and chills to headache, feeling weak, and overall muscle aches, along with a dry cough. Essentially it can make you feel as though you have the flu, but it is caused by your cookware.

Data indicate that US poison centers have received over 3,600 reports of probable cases of polymer fume fever, a flu-like disease associated with a chemical coating found on some nonstick cookware, during the past 20 years. The illness has been called “Teflon flu” after the trademarked name of the popular nonstick coating, according to a report from The Washington Post. Indeed, America’s Poison Centers, a nonprofit, reports that 267 cases were reported last year-allegedly one of the highest reported totals since the year 2000.