Your Non-Stick Pan Could Be Making You Sick. Know What Teflon Flu Is And How It Affects Your Health

Teflon flu or polymer fume fever involves flu-like symptoms associated with breathing fumes from some overheated nonstick pan.

In Teflon flu, illness occurs when someone is exposed to fumes from certain nonstick pans.

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The United States is seeing a significant rise of a novel flu which is being caused by inhaling fumes from overheated nonstick pans.

According to a report in The Washington Post, the US has seen more than 3,600 reports of suspected cases of Teflon flu in the last two decades.

The report, quoting America's Poison Centers, said that there have been 267 suspected cases of the little-known Teflon flu in 2023, which is considered to be one of the highest such infections since 2000.

What Is Teflon Flu?

Teflon flu or polymer fume fever involves flu-like symptoms associated with breathing fumes from some overheated nonstick pan.

In Teflon flu, a person gets sick after being exposed to fumes from some nonstick pans. The condition is caused by the excess heating of the chemical coating found on some nonstick pans and is commonly as "Teflon flu" or “polymer fume fever", named after the popular nonstick coating.

Some of the symptoms of the Teflon flu include:

• Fever and Cough

• Headache and dizziness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Fatigue 

What Causes Teflon Flu?

Teflon and many other nonstick pans are made with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which belongs to the larger class of substances known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” because they remain present in the environment for years.

Though nonstick pans made with PTFE are safe to cook, but at very high temperatures like 260 degrees Celsius, the coating can start to degrade and burn off harmful fumes.

Zac Hudson, associate professor at the University of British Columbia, said that the nonstick pan will burn and release a very complex mix of oxidized, fluorinated substances. Experts advise against heating the teflon pan to a high temperature.

Is It A Cause For Concern?

The number of cases of Teflon Flu remains relatively small, however, experts say that the cases of the flue may be underreported.

Maryann Amirshahi, the co-medical director for the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, said that the incidents of polymer fume fever may be underreported because the symptoms, which include fever, chills and a headache, can develop hours after inhaling the fumes. She added that people may confuse the flu with a cold.

Apart from human, birds are particularly sensitive to toxic fumes and the fumes caused by overheating a PFAS-coated pan can even kill them.

What Should You Do?

According to experts, nonstick pans should never be preheated and advised against heating till high temperatures. Moreover, it is advisable to avoid heating empty nonstick pans as they reach high temperatures very quickly. Therefore, always apply some butter or oil to the pan before heating. 

Typical cooking methods, ranging from medium to low heat, won’t result in such high temperatures. The reports of polymer flu fever have involved people who have left a heating nonstick pan unattended.

Therefore, nonstick cookware and bakeware in ovens should be put below 260 degrees Celsius. Also, it is advisable to use wood, nylon or silicon utensils to avoid any scratches on the surface of nonstick pans.