Carry a Big Non-Stick

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" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

HSI e-Alert - Carry a Big Non-Stick

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 06:59:00 -0400

HSI e-Alert - Carry a Big Non-Stick

 

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

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July 13, 2005

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

Concerned about using Teflon cookware? You're not alone. Here's a

question from an HSI member named Sylvia who is understandably cautious:

 

" I have read about the dangers of Teflon in your newsletter. Now

Dupont has a new improved nonstick system called Autograph 2,

supposedly their best product. Can anyone advise if this product is

safer than Teflon?

 

Autograph 2 is touted to be " restaurant-tested by professional chefs. "

I'm not exactly sure what that's supposed to mean. After all, what is

a " restaurant test " ?

 

The key feature of Autograph 2 appears to be durability, which is

something many Teflon-coated pans lack. If you're like me, somewhere

along the line you've probably owned a frying pan that started to

produce flakes of Teflon coating after prolonged use. You don't have

to read any studies to suspect that Teflon flakes in your food are

probably not good for you.

 

As for safety, try as I might I couldn't find any safety information

about Autograph 2. But here's a question that might provide a good

place to start checking the safety of the new non-stick: Does A2

contain perfluorooctanoic acid?

 

The answer to that question would be revealing, because this chemical

compound - known as PFOA and long suspected to be an unhealthy

component of Teflon - was recently singled out as something you

probably wouldn't want to have come in contact with the food you eat.

 

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Likely suspect

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For some time now the scientific advisory panel of the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) has regarded PFOA as a possible carcinogen.

Last week the panel made headlines when a draft report was posted on

the EPA web site upgrading PFOA (or downgrading, depending on how you

see it) to a " likely carcinogen. "

 

In addition to Teflon, PFOA is also used to create stain-resistant

surfaces for carpets and fabrics. Scientists don't know exactly how

PFOA makes its way into our blood. And as yet, there's no conclusive

proof that the compound even harms humans. But based on studies in

which PFOA triggered different types of tumors in mice and rats, the

advisory panel decided to make consumers more cautious about using

products that contain PFOA.

 

A spokesperson for DuPont - the company that makes PFOA and Teflon -

told the Washington Post last week that toxicology studies show that

the chemical compound is not a health risk to humans.

 

So when it comes to the carcinogenic issue, this is a typical

" regulatory agency said " / " corporate giant said " situation. Time will

tell who's correct.

 

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Turn down the heat and call me in the morning

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And then there's the matter of Teflon " flu. "

 

About a year and a half ago I caught an airing of ABC's 20/20 in which

representatives from an organization called the Environmental Working

Group demonstrated how a Teflon-coated pan can easily reach a

temperature of 500 degrees while cooking bacon. At that temperature,

they claim that ultrafine particles may be released from the pan. And

at around 680 degrees the pan will begin to emit toxic gases. When

inhaled, the gases may cause a reaction with symptoms that are typical

of the flu, including a rise in body temperature, chills, headache, etc.

 

DuPont's vice president of research and development, Uma Chowdhry, was

interviewed by 20/20, and when asked about the Teflon flu she admitted

that heated Teflon does release fumes which can cause a " flu-like

symptom, which is reversible. "

 

Reversible! Well that's good news! It's so much more appealing than an

irreversible flu-like symptom.

 

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Hot pan, cold oil

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Every Friday I turn the e-Alert over to HSI members who post comments

on the Healthier Talk community forums. Last February I featured a

very informative conversation about alternatives to Teflon cookware.

Here are a few of their remarks...

 

A member named R.B. wrote: " I bought a very expensive frypan with

glass lid to avoid the aluminum dangers and the mess of stainless

steel sticking. It is made of titanium and can be used on extremely

high heat without oils and will never warp or be damaged. Nothing

sticks to it at all. "

 

Stainless steel is another alternative, although stainless steel often

contains nickel, which is toxic. But a member named M.K. offered this

clever tip for easily gauging nickel content: " There is a simple test

to determine if your stainless - or the stainless you wish to purchase

- is okay or not. If a magnet sticks to your pot/pan - you are safe.

If it does not, there is too much nickel. "

 

Issues of safety aside, if you want to keep food from sticking to a

cooking surface, the cooking technique may be more important than the

material the surface is made of. Here's some professional advice from

a member named Howard: " I've worked in several professional kitchens

in the past, and I have NEVER seen a 'Teflon' or other non-stick pan

in the building. Pro kitchens are all to do with SPEED. You need pans

that transfer heat quickly, are light, and easy to clean. This means

Aluminum. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but if you eat out often,

you are eating food cooked in aluminum pans.

 

" If you want your pans, (whatever their base metal) to be non-stick,

follow the old chef's maxim: Hot Pan, Cold Oil, Foods Don't Stick!

Amateur cooks put a cold pan on the stove, add the fat to the pan, and

turn on the heat. This is a GUARANTEE that whatever protein or carb

that you add to that pan after it reaches temp, will stick like

super-glue. If you want to make your pans non-stick, do this: PRE-HEAT

the pan, and then add the oil/fat. Wait for a tell-tale wisp of smoke

from the pan before adding your ingredients for cooking. This is the

pan's method of telling you that it is 'ready' to cook. "

 

Of course, if history is any indicator, look for your Teflon flu

alert, followed by a life-saving vaccine, to be released any day now.

 

 

 

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....and another thing

 

Come to Oregon.

 

That's the advice offered by an HSI member named Alisia after reading

the e-Alert " The Good Doctor " (6/30/05).

 

The doctor referred to in that title is a skilled osteopath who has

given me exceptional medical care for several years. But no more. Last

month the Maryland Board of Physicians (MBP) revoked the license of

Binyamin C. Rothstein, D.O., even though no patient complaints had

been filed against him. His misdeed: He successfully used healing

techniques that didn't fit within the very narrow definition of

mainstream medicine.

 

In other words, he would rather heal than medicate. (You can read the

entire e-Alert at this link:

http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200506/ea20050630.html)

 

Alicia believes Dr. Rothstein would be welcomed in Oregon. She writes:

" tell this good doctor to come to Oregon, where alternative medicine

is accepted and somewhat glorified. "

 

I'll pass that suggestion on to Dr. Rothstein but I doubt he'll be

moving cross-country anytime soon. Right now he's busy with the sad

task of closing up his office, while also preparing to fight the

absurdly unjust decision of the MBP. To that end, Dr. Rothstein is

arranging a face-to-face meeting with Maryland Governor Robert

Ehrlich, Jr., to appeal his case.

 

In " The Good Doctor " I listed the address of Dr. Rothstein's attorney

for anyone who might want to join me in making a donation to the

doctor's legal fund. To my great surprise (and gratitude!) almost

$1,000 was mailed in within the first three days. And Dr. Rothstein

was even more surprised than I was because he had no idea that I was

making such an appeal to e-Alert readers.

 

Now we have one more opportunity to help.

 

Dr. Rothstein hopes to present letters of support to Governor Ehrlich

when they meet. So this week I'm going to write a letter to the

governor, imploring him to reverse the MBP's revocation of Dr.

Rothstein's license. If you have a spare moment to write a brief note

to Governor Ehrlich, that would be tremendously helpful as well.

Simply ask the governor to review Dr. Rothstein's case, bearing in

mind that the doctor effectively employed common complementary and

alternative healing techniques, and that none of the doctor's patients

have ever filed a complaint against him.

 

Letters of support should be addressed to the Governor but should be

mailed to Dr. Rothstein directly:

 

Binyamin C. Rothstein

6511 Western Run Dr.

Baltimore, MD 21215

 

While this one case is obviously close to my heart (and my back and

neck), it is an opportunity for all of us to stand up for our right to

choose whether we want to be healed or simply overdosed. I prefer the

former.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

 

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Sources:

 

" Chemical Compound in DuPont's Teflon a Likely Carcinogen " Juliet

Eilperin, Washington Post, 6/29/05, washingtonpost.com

 

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