Was hoping to get some PFOA free pans but Cooks Essentials still using PTFE https://www.qvc.com/footers/cd/pdf/K42527_Use_and_Care.pdf Come with a warning not to keep pet birds in the kitchen when using them (they are sensitive to the chemicals in the non-stick surface when they break down (as are humans...))
https://community.qvc.com/t5/Today-...-s-Essentials-Still-Using-Teflon/td-p/4072061
Guess I will have to look elsewhere. Time to dump my old pans too.
I worked with a lovely radiologist who kept all sorts of birds many years ago. He warned me to never leave a bird in a kitchen with a gas hob or oven as the fumes from them alone can kill some birds if there's no ventilation.
He also warned about scented (or cheap unscented) candles and air fresheners, saying birds are sensitive to those, too. Several years later I started reacting to air fresheners and then candles. I knew we were often referred to as his birds (all-female team under him at that time) but I never thought I'd end up behaving like his birds!
Oddly enough, I read about the different forms of non-stick earlier this week and how they gained a bad rep for fumes because people were using them on too high a heat. I know from my sister's experience not to cook non-stick at high heat as it will burn and become damaged so I keep mine for low-heat frying or boiling. Everything else goes into my stainless or cast iron pans. I cook the majority of stuff lower for longer these days and rarely fry high unless it's briefly to seal meat. I also got rid of aluminium pans that weren't encapsulated due to the link with dementia, though I see frequently simple aluminium pans used in professional kitchens.