Starting from January 2027, the state of Rhode Island in the United States will ban the sale of cookware deliberately containing PFAS, joining other states such as Minnesota in restricting cookware containing “forever chemicals”.
The legislation in Rhode Island was signed in 2024 and will come into effect on January 1, 2027. Prior to this, Minnesota had already banned the sale of cookware containing intentionally added PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting from January 1, 2025. Similar bans in Colorado and Vermont came into effect on January 1, 2026.
Two states have taken a labeling approach instead of a ban. Connecticut requires cookware containing PFAS to be labeled starting from January 1, 2026. New Jersey signed a bill on January 12, 2026, stipulating that most cookware containing PFAS must be labeled from 2028.
PFAS is a large group of man-made chemicals. The laws in these states include traditional non-stick cookware coatings using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and other fluorinated polymers under the definition of PFAS.
The cookware industry group, the Cookware Sustainability Alliance (CSA), had filed a lawsuit against the ban in Minnesota. The federal district court dismissed the case on August 11, 2025.
In their lawsuit, the CSA argued that non-stick pans accounted for nearly 63% of the U.S. cookware market in 2023. The alliance believed that the fluorinated polymers used in non-stick coatings were fundamentally different compounds from the PFAS of general concern.
Not all states have followed suit. California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the SB 682 bill on October 13, 2025, which aimed to ban cookware containing PFAS starting from 2030. Newsom expressed concerns that the bill might affect Californians’ access to affordable cookware.
Apart from the chemicals themselves, the usage of non-stick pans has also raised concerns. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there were over 265 reported cases of suspected “polymer fume fever” in 2023, the highest in a year since 2000. This illness is colloquially known as “Teflon flu”.
This illness is related to overheating of pots and pans with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coatings. It is reported that when PTFE-coated cookware is heated above 500 degrees Fahrenheit (about 260 degrees Celsius), harmful fumes are released. Symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, difficulty breathing, and headaches. Recommendations suggest avoiding overheating non-stick pans.
Among the PFAS family, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one of the most studied substances. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization, classified PFOA as a Group 1 carcinogen and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as Group 2B in November 2023. The IARC clarified that this classification only reflects the strength of the evidence and does not indicate varying risks at different levels of exposure.
In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a management plan with eight companies to phase out PFOA by the end of 2015. The EPA’s final progress report in February 2017 showed that all participating companies had met the targets.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that PFAS is detectable in nearly all Americans’ blood. From 1999–2000 to 2017–2018, the concentration of PFOA in people’s blood decreased by over 70%.
Regarding drinking water, the EPA published a proposal in the Federal Register on May 20, 2026. According to the proposal, eligible water systems can apply for an extension until 2031 to meet the standards for PFOA and PFOS; systems that do not apply must meet the standards by 2029.
For consumers who do not use non-stick cookware with fluorinated coatings, they can opt for stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic-coated cookware, and other alternatives. Current studies show that each type of material has its own considerations.
In terms of stainless steel cookware, a study published in 2013 simulated cooking tomato sauce in stainless steel. The results showed that after 6 hours of cooking, the nickel and chromium concentrations in the sauce increased up to 26 and 7 times, respectively, depending on the grade of stainless steel. Higher release rates were observed in new pans, decreasing with each subsequent use and stabilizing after the 6th use. Even by the 10th cooking, an average of 88 micrograms of nickel and 86 micrograms of chromium were still present in each 126 grams of sauce. Researchers pointed out that oral ingestion of nickel and chromium could lead to skin reactions.
In the case of cast iron cookware, a systematic review published in 2003 analyzed relevant trials from developing countries, showing some evidence that cooking with iron pots could increase hemoglobin levels in anemic or iron-deficient individuals. However, a randomized clinical trial conducted in Benin, West Africa, did not find evidence that iron pots effectively improved iron-deficiency anemia.
Ceramic-coated cookware does not use PTFE, but studies have found that some products’ coatings contain titanium dioxide nanoparticles. A study from 2017, documented by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), tested cookware with acetic acid solution to simulate food use. The results indicated that after simulating typical usage, the release of titanium and silicon was generally higher in used cookware compared to new ones. Under severe wear conditions, titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles were also found. Another study from 2016 discovered that these coatings do not significantly break down at normal cooking temperatures but may release titanium nanoparticles due to scratches and wear.
Furthermore, in August 2025, the FDA issued a warning that some imported aluminum, brass, and aluminum alloy cookware could leach lead into food during cooking. The FDA recommended individuals to check the published product list, discard items on the list, and avoid donating or refurbishing them. The FDA noted that infants, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women are at higher risk of exposure, and emphasized that the list is not exhaustive and will be continuously updated.
In terms of products promoted through consumer reviews or testimonials, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Review Rule took effect in October 2024, prohibiting false or misleading reviews and testimonials. On December 22, 2025, the FTC issued warning letters to 10 companies, cautioning them about potential violations of this rule.
According to data from 2025, violators can face fines of up to $53,088 per offense. When the rule was first announced in 2024, the maximum penalty was $51,744.