Are Your Kitchen Pans Making You Sick?

Teflon has been helping eggs slide out of the pan since the early 1950s. While Teflon, a chemical coating known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), has made cooks’ lives easier, it poses potential health risks, including something called Teflon flu.

But what exactly is Teflon flu and how can you protect yourself? Our expert Caroline Mastro, M.D., a family medicine doctor at Southern Ocean Medical Center, explains what you need to know.

What Is Teflon Flu?

“Teflon flu is a flu-like illness that occurs after inhaling byproducts of PTFE fumes,” says Dr. Mastro. These byproducts may be inhaled if Teflon pans are overheated or if you handle raw Teflon materials as part of your job.

What Are the Symptoms of Teflon Flu?

The symptoms of Teflon flu are like many other illnesses. They may include:

• Low-grade fever
• Chest tightness
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath

Symptoms usually occur within two to 24 hours of exposure. “Exposure is the only distinction to make in determining if it's Teflon flu,” says Dr. Mastro.

Cases are vastly underreported due to the generic symptoms. If you develop these symptoms, think about if you’ve recently used Teflon cookware.

It’s important to note that Teflon flu will not cause upper respiratory symptoms such as congestion or runny nose.

How Is Teflon Flu Treated?

Teflon flu is generally mild and will run its course within one to two days. Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help alleviate symptoms.

“Those with underlying respiratory issues may develop acute respiratory syndrome, which can last five to 10 days,” says Dr. Mastro. But this is rare.

How to Prevent Teflon Flu

There are several things you can do to prevent Teflon flu and continue to use your nonstick cookware. Dr. Mastro advises:

• Don’t preheat your cookware.
• Cook using oil or butter. butter. These substances have lower smoke points than Teflon, so fumes are less likely to form.
• Cook over medium to low heat.
• Don’t use metal utensils because they can scratch the pan’s Teflon coating.

Generally, Teflon pans should be replaced every three to five years or when you begin to see scratches or other signs of wear and tear.

Another way to prevent Teflon flu is to use safer cookware options such as:

• Cast iron
• Stainless steel
• Ceramic (while you can still scratch ceramic cookware, it is considered safer than Teflon)

Be Aware

“At this point, there don’t seem to be long-term consequences of Teflon flu,” says Dr. Mastro. It’s an acute illness, meaning the illness is sudden and generally short lived.

Chronic conditions, on the other hand, usually develop slowly and can be ongoing issues. Studies are currently being done regarding long-term exposure and consequences of recurrent bouts of Teflon flu to see if it may cause chronic issues.

Most of us are only exposed to Teflon through cookware, and it’s fine to use if you are vigilant about safe usage. But Dr. Mastro cautions to “be aware of what you are using.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Caroline B. Mastro, M.D.
• To make an appointment with a family medicine doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Learn more about primary care at Hackensack Meridian Health.