Tefal has been found misleading consumers by advertising its pans containing PFAS as ‘100% safe’ and ‘environmentally friendly,’ according to the Advertising Code Commission (RCC). The company has been reprimanded and must revise its advertisements.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are persistent chemicals that accumulate in the environment and human bodies. “It is extremely troubling that a major PFAS distributor is misrepresenting the safety and environmental impact of its products,” said Collin Molenaar, who lodged the complaint.
Tefal’s packaging claims that the pans are free from PFOA, a specific PFAS variant, and are entirely safe. However, another PFAS variant present in the pans is not fully safe or environmentally friendly.
As Tefal pans age or get scratched, PFAS-containing non-stick coating particles can detach and enter food. Additionally, overheating the coating can release harmful fumes. The RCC asserts that these factors make the pans not 100% safe.
Furthermore, the production of Tefal’s non-stick coating involves harmful PFAS variants that pollute the environment. Disposed pans also release PFAS into the environment, contradicting claims of being ‘environmentally friendly’ and ‘100% safe.’
PFAS can also be found in oven dishes with non-stick coatings. If an oven dish does not explicitly state it is PFAS-free, it likely contains PFAS. While PFAS was previously found in baking paper, Dutch supermarket brands now confirm their baking paper is PFAS-free.