Birds have particularly sensitive respiratory systems, and can be injured by many kinds of household fumes, including those from aerosol sprays, burning butter or cooking oils, cleaning solvents, and overheated non-stick cookware. Bird owners can take several precautions to protect pet birds from cooking fumes: (1) keep birds out of the kitchen; (2) observe good cooking practices and never allow cookware to overheat; and (3) keep the cooking area well-ventilated.

Particles from Teflon® cookware are not harmful to consumers. Particles from Teflon® branded cookware are not harmful, even if ingested. Confidence in the safety and performance of DuPont non-stick coatings is based on more than 40 years of laboratory testing and use in home and commercial kitchens.

Generally, it is not necessary to wash cookware or bakeware with a non-stick coating in the dishwasher, but this extremely thorough cleaning will not harm the finish, or affect the performance quality. We recommend you follow the manufacturers cleaning instructions.

Human health research on PFOA conducted to date has shown no known health effects. Based on an evaluation of human health and toxicology studies, DuPont concludes that PFOA exposure does not pose a cancer risk or any health risk to the general public. There is no significant potential for exposure to PFOA from using products made with DuPont materials; hence, there is no risk to consumers. Please click here for more information about PFOA.

Because birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems, bird owners must take precautions to protect them. Cooking fumes, smoke and odors that have little or no effect on people can seriously sicken and even kill birds, often quite quickly. Cooking fumes from any type of unattended or overheated cookware, not just non-stick, can damage a bird’s lungs with alarming speed.

With today's improved non-sticks, scratching is much less of a problem to worry about. And even if a minor scratch were to occur, it only affects the appearance - not the cooking or easy clean-up performance - of the pan. To avoid scratching, don't use sharp-edged or metal utensils when cooking. Some of the more durable Teflon® coatings, like Teflon® Select or Teflon® Platinum Pro, resist damage from metal utensils with careful use.

Searing is easily accomplished in a non-stick pan. Simply pre-heat your non-stick pan slowly until it reaches the appropriate temperature, then add the food to be seared.

Teflon® was first used to make cookware non-stick in the early 1960's. Since then cooks in more than 40 countries around the world have purchased billions of pots and pans with DuPont non-stick coatings for home and commercial use.

Low or medium heat is recommended for cookware with DuPont non-stick surfaces, however, the coatings can withstand temperatures up to 500?F, which is well above what is recommended for frying and baking. Furthermore, the coatings will not show significant decomposition until temperatures reach 600?F, but it is unlikely that the cookware could reach such temperatures without burning the food to an inedible state. However, they can be reached if an empty pan is left on a hot burner or in the oven.

The safety of cookware coated with fluoropolymer non-stick coatings has been assessed by regulatory agencies of the United States and many other countries. For many years, non-stick cookware has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for conventional kitchen use. FDA has not changed that approval. Governments in other parts of the world have also approved these coatings on cookware and housewares.

Yes. DuPont non-stick coatings on cookware are safe for everyday use. Confidence in the safety and performance of DuPont non-stick coatings is based on more than 40 years of laboratory testing and use in home and commercial kitchens. Moreover, a stringent certification program ensures that non-stick coatings by DuPont are used only in suitable applications.

high temperatures, the quality of the coating may begin to deteriorate - it may dis-color or lose its non-stick quality. This can begin to occur at temperatures above 500? F. If heated to an extremely high temperature, the coating may begin to decompose and give off fumes. Fats, butter, or cooking oil will begin to scorch and smoke at about 400? F (204? C).

It is best if a coated pan is used on low or medium heat. Higher temperatures (above 500? F) can be reached while cooking, but the food will likely burn and smoke to unacceptable levels. Even higher temperatures (above 600? F) can be reached within minutes, if dry or empty cookware is left on a hot burner or in a hot oven. Non-stick cookware should not be left unattended or allowed to get very hot without food in the pan.

No. Consumers frequently use the term "Teflon" to refer to any non-stick coating. However, Teflon? is a DuPont-owned registered trademark for non-stick coatings and other products. Other companies make non-stick coatings that are marketed under different brand names. While non-stick coatings may vary somewhat, most are based on the same basic materials ? known as fluoropolymers.

You can check out our Where to buy feature, where you?ll find a list of where you can purchase cookware coated with DuPont non-stick coatings.

Yes. Non-stick coating on most cookware may be marred by the sharp edge of a steel spatula or point of a fork. For longevity of use, plastic and/or nylon kitchen tools are best paired with non-stick cookware.

No. ProGuard takes steps in every job to avoid harming any birds. Our process moves them off site without harming them.

Yes - Pet birds are at risk, however the risk is minimal. The H5N1 avian influenza virus has been found in a variety of birds. The best way to protect your pet bird is to prevent it from coming in contact with wild birds and materials or equipment used by other birds.

Cookware should never be overheated. Low or medium heat is recommended for cookware with non-stick coatings. The coatings are completely safe for normal kitchen use, including baking or frying, and can be used at temperature up to approximately 500? F (260? C). For example, meat is usually cooked at 204?C/400?F, poultry is generally roasted at 204?C/400?F and cookies and cakes are usually baked at around 190?C/375?F.

All fumes can be irritating or even harmful. Butter, fats, and cooking oils will begin to smoke at 400? F (204? C), producing fumes that can irritate eyes, nose and throat and possibly cause respiratory distress. DuPont non-stick coatings will not begin to deteriorate in appearance or performance until the temperature of the cookware reaches about 500? F (260? C). The coating will not show significant decomposition unless temperatures exceed about 600? F (316? ).

Non-stick coating provides an easy and convenient way to enhance your cooking experience. Cookware coated with non-stick is safe at cooking temperatures up to 500? F/260? C, which is beyond the temperature that foods are normally prepared.

Yes, Teflon® non-stick products are safe. Prior to market introduction, DuPont non-stick coatings were subjected to studies at the DuPont Haskell Laboratory for Health & Environmental Sciences.  Cooks in more than 40 countries around the world have purchased and used billions of pots and pans with DuPont non-stick coatings.

Overheating. If food sticks to your pan, the heat was too high or you had no moisture in the pan. Try adding two tablespoon of water to fresh or frozen vegetables.

If a DuPont non-stick coatings flakes off and is eaten, it poses no health threat. It is inert, which means it passes through the body and is not absorbed. It is not harmful.

present, the H5N1 avian flu is not known to be here in the United States. Those with pet birds, such as parrots, cockatiels, love birds or budgies should not worry about their pets getting "bird flu" if they have not been out of the country or in contact with birds from other countries. In order to protect your pet birds from other avian diseases, keep your birds isolated from wild birds. Isolation of newly acquired or ill birds from others for 30 days is recommended.

Recently there has been a lot of media coverage about the relationship between PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and non-stick cookware. T-fal? non-stick coatings DO NOT contain PFOA. PFOA is a component used to manufacture polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), an ingredient in non-stick coatings. At 300? C (572? F) PFOA has a half life of 0.14 seconds. This means that in one second at this temperature it goes through seven half lives so that 99.2% of PFOA is destroyed.