Teflon

[wearjo]

Hi guys, I'd just like to make a suggestion for everyone here: Chuck all of your non-"greenware" pots and pans out! It will kill your birds!
Here is part of a blog post from birdtricks.com:
'Most "greenware" metal pans are hard anodized aluminum pans that have under gone an electrochemical process that makes their surface very slick and resists foods sticking to it. It sounds scary but is perfectly safe. Its surface is highly durable - even moreso than stainless steel.

Other common "greenware" is ceramic or silicone based. Silicone is a natural material the makes up 28% of the earth's crust. It is processed into a coating that is basically glass. While I feel that it is liekyl quite safe, there are claims that it melts at temperatures lower than those listed that it can handle. I have no real evidence of this fact, however.

Ceramic coating is the basis for Thermolon, and the coating used in "GreenPan". The jury is still out on this product. Thermolon initially claimed the use of nanotechnology in its product recipe, but they later denied the claim blaming it on "over-enthusiastic copywriters" who thought it sounded cool. I guess no one in the company is reading the press releases - OR they are just another manufacturer that cant be trusted. Take your pick. A few recent studies have questioned the safety of the use of nanotech in coockware, perhaps that had something to do with their need to come clean.'

To read the full blog post, go to this page

[cindy]

Cast iron ans stainless steel is recommended to me by my avian vet, all telfon wen out the door!!!! Teflon starts releasing particles in the air if over heated at 500 degress or more and will quickly go through the house.

[bugaboo5]

I've heard from a friend with connections to the FDA that we may be hearing some not-so-great things about Teflon and the effects on HUMANS in the near future. I'm not officially sure when, but she advised me to switch over to American stainless steel. A plus is that stainless steel can last up to thirty years -- Teflon, not so much. So Teflon can absolutely kill your birds but don't be so sure about what it's doing to you. Chuck those Teflon pots out for sure!

[cindy]

I posted this at the end of the week on another thread

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... lit=teflon

The effects on humans is not so nice either....long term thoughts are a bit scarey.

Quote
"In light of one of our member's friend loosing over 40 birds to Teflon poisoning...this article is a must read, for our well being and our pets.

http://www.theherbprof.com/InfoTeflonPoisoning.htm

one of the interesting points was made on 20/20 regarding temperatures and toxic gases emitted from teflon.

"ABC’s 20/20
A year and a half ago an airing of ABC’s 20/20 with 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. 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 has said that the temperatures needed to release the fumes cannot be reached during normal cooking. As the Environmental Working Group showed 20/20 in the kitchen demonstration, however, a pan can reach that temperature in just a few minutes.
quote:
“At 554 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Houlihan, “studies show ultrafine particles start coming off the pan. These are tiny little particles that can embed deeply into the lungs.”

The hotter the pan gets, the more chemicals are released. “At 680, toxic gases can begin to come off of heated Teflon,” Houlihan said. It also turns out that, DuPont has known about the “Teflon flu” for years."

Read the article...it has effects on our health that you may not be aware of.

Teflon is on many things, including hair straighteners...opt for ceraminc. It is on irons, it is in some fabric sprays, ovens, pans.

An article by
Darrel K. Styles, DVM
Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center
Texas A&M University

Effects on birds big and small

TeflonTM poisoning: The silent killer
http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/styles/teflon.html"

end quote from another thread

[Angeldov222]

thanks for sharing..............i didnt know that great that this info is being shared !!

[wearjo]

Wow Cindy! I knew that Teflon was bad, but not ThAT bad! Wow! Oh btw, does anyone have any info on analon? Cause that's what we have?

[h2olilee]

I agree with Cindy 100%. Cast Iron and Stainless Steel all the way. I chucked all my non stick cookware over 15 years ago when I got my Senegal parrot. Also-- never use the self cleaning cycle on your oven- it puts out fumes deadly to birds and will kill very quickly!

[Amyrs2880]

Woah, I never knew about the self cleaning oven releasing toxic fumes

[jmc]

I lost all six of my new Zebra finches to teflon poisoning this weekend

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=21596

Stainless steel cookware is on the way.

[L in Ontario]

Stainless steel cookware is on the way.

Very glad to hear that!

[cindy]

I agree with Liz . It will put your mind at ease.

[Sally]

What about Calphalon cookware, anybody know if it is OK?

[cindy]

Sally, I can email the question to my avian vet and see what she says.

[Sally]

Cindy, I'd appreciate it. It is the original Calphalon cookware, nonstick, but I don't know if it is the same as Teflon or not.

[cindy]

Sally, I emailed my vet...I will let you know when I get a response.