Earlier you read that a lack of oxygen is the real cause of cancer. But I also mentioned that carcinogens can damage your cells and lead to cancer. We know a lot of carcinogens, but one that most have overlooked is probably in your kitchen. And you probably cook with it every day.
Its not processed food, sugar, or white flour (though those can definitely damage cells). Its Teflon.
Teflon is the slippery non-stick stuff that DuPont Company makes and puts on your cookware. And new evidence suggests that Teflon causes cancer. The evidence was found by a scientific advisory panel to the EPA.
This group voted unanimously that Teflon and its chemical cousins should be classified as a likely carcinogen. The EPA is free to accept or reject the panels findings. Hopefully the EPA will base its decision on science and not politics or money (not likely).
Once again, Americans have sold convenience for safety. Most (70%) cookware purchased in the U.S. is Teflon coated. Teflon is made with the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
PFOA is one of the toxic chemicals released when Teflon reaches high temperatures. And with its promise of non-stick, of course you are more likely to turn up the heat. After all, your food will slide right off. But sliding off into your food are these chemicals, which have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.
The problem is even worse. Another class of chemical, fluorotelomers breaks down into PFOA upon ingestion. This has been proven in several animal studies including one by the EPA itself. Fluorotelomers are chemicals used in rugs and clothing (like Gore-Tex) to make them water and stain resistant.
But get this — the chemical is also used in grease-resistant food packaging, like boxes for French fries, pizza, fast food chicken, and paper plates. Its found in packaging for drinks, bakery items, candy, and microwave popcorn packages.
Last year, the EPA fined DuPont $16.5 million for hiding data on PFOA toxicity for more than 20 years. If they can find a clear link to cancer, DuPont will have even more money to dole out from lawsuits.
Of course, DuPont and another Big Chema giant, 3M, are protesting. DuPont has even taken out ads to counter the damage. However, here is one of the rare times you will see when corporate America makes a big mistake. By publicly claiming Teflon is safe, they are alerting millions of otherwise ignorant Americans that there is a problem and a controversy.
I was suspicious of Teflon from day one, and seldom used it. Knowing it was a petrochemical product, I was sure that heating it, like all chemicals, would lead to release of toxins. But I had no idea the toxin was used in such a wide variety of food packaging.
Are you affected? Its very likely. PFOA is now found in the blood of 90% of Americans and in 96% of 600 tested children. Yes, you can tell if you are exposed at home by your use of Teflon cookware. But there is no way to tell if the packaging of your food is lined with these toxins.
So what can you do? First, dump your Teflon cookware just as fast as you can. Instead use glass. I used stainless steel for a long time. Stainless steel is very heat efficient and fairly resistant to acids and food chemicals. But it does contain nickel, a potentially toxic metal.
My wife asked me to consider switching to glass, which is inert. After she broke her Corning Visions glass Dutch oven, I went looking for a replacement. Sadly, they are not produced anymore. You can still find them online, though, at a cost of about $130. But eBay saved the day. For about the same price as a new Dutch pot, I was able to locate a fine and complete assortment of glass pots and pans from various sellers. Target has a small glass pot for about $20. But I suggest that you do a Google search using the following words: Visions glass cookware. You will find an assortment of used, but generally fine pots and pans. While our cooking is limited, as you know, all of it now is in glass cookware.