Food Network's Good Eats talks about non-stick fumes

[Dustin]

I am watching Good eats on food network and they are testing cooking myths. They talked about birds dying from non-stick fumes. And that new research has shown that humans can suffer flu-like symptoms from the fumes. They just said, what most of us know, that it can cause birds to die from exposure to the fumes. I am glad that they brought some awareness to some people that may not know about the dangers of using non-stick cookware with birds in the household.

[Kachina]

FH and I like watching Good Eats. Alton is one of our fave hosts, he makes cooking fun and throws the science in there too. I never knew it could make people sick till I saw that. Thank goodness the teflon went out of the house when I got my first bird.

[jlunn23]

Finally it gets mentioned! When I mention it to my customers, I work as a GM at a pet store, they give me this clueless look like I am joking. And these people have birds in their homes. I had this customer a few months ago who cam ein to get a couple of parakeets. I always ask questions, okay give the third degree but only because I care, to see what they expect out of the bird and the bird's living arrangements etc. I question abot cage size, diet, placement of cage and food treats. In talking with this guy he tells be he can't seem to keep parakeets, they keep dying on him. I questioned him and asked how many have died? 10 parakeets in the past 6 months. I was stunned! I then began asking him questions to see if we could figure out why they are dying. I ask about diet, Pellets, millet, plenty of clean water. Cage size and cleanliness, plenty big ( it's a huge cage that could fit an Amazon, not an issue). I then ask about cage placement. It is in the kitchen where his wife cooks. I ask what kind of cookeware does she use? Non stick cookwear with teflon, plus she burns candles and those stinky pot pourri thingys right nect to birds cage! I almost fell on the floor. I suggested to the customer not to get any birds today until they can figure out a better placement for the cage. It must be very upsetting for the kids to have all these birds die on them. I suggested he come back when he has his living situation a little more condusive to keeping birds. I would not sell him a cricket, much less a bird.
Some people should not have animals OR children.

OOps sorry so long, I held this in for awhile, guess I needed to vent.
Thanks,
Joyce

[poi_lover]

Originally Posted by jlunn23

In talking with this guy he tells be he can't seem to keep parakeets, they keep dying on him. I questioned him and asked how many have died? 10 parakeets in the past 6 months. I was stunned!

Originally Posted by jlunn23

It is in the kitchen where his wife cooks. I ask what kind of cookeware does she use? Non stick cookwear with teflon, plus she burns candles and those stinky pot pourri thingys right nect to birds cage! I almost fell on the floor.

Holy smokes! I think I would talked with a vet or stopped buying them after the second one died! Or, as least do a little research. How can people be so stupid?! Poor birds!

[MandysBlackRoses]

Im glad the non-stick cookware got mentioning on T.V. I read a horrible story about this women who lost 3 macaws and a breeding pair of amazons, from a self cleaning oven.

I wish they would place warnings on these things. It would save lives for sure. But do you think they would do this? Heck No! And have maybe a "few" costomers NOT buy thier products?? This women who lost her birds started a pattion to MAKE them place warnings on ovens.

[carriesb]

I had no clue about it when I bought my first bird luckily I don't cook really. And my sister and law and mother both had parakeets before me and they didn't know until I found out and told them. I really wish non stick had to have warnings on it.

[Monica]

We use non-stick here (mother loves it!), though none of the birds are kept in the kitchen... The only room they are in is my bedroom with the door shut all the time, and the windows opened occasionally during the summer time.

Before we moved we lived in a smaller home and I did have some of the birds in the livingroom which was connected directly to the kitchen, however none of the birds appeared to be affected by any cooking done.

[Kachina]

Our birds aren't near the kitchen, but it gave me the excuse to toss that cheap trashy teflon and spring for the tri-ply stainless set I'd been wanting for years. I do keep one small one for eggs only, and it is used carefully so it's not overheated.

Me: "But Honey.... -puppy dog eyes- Teflon will hurt the birdies...That tri-ply is safe and sure is shiny"

[joeyddog]

I'm about to get a baby Sun and have been reading about the hazards of teflon- never knew about it and now realize it probably killed my beloved budgie. I realized I need to birdproof my house and am realizing my George Forman has to go. What about all that new silicon bakeware? I just bought a bunch. A little off topic but how do all you bird lovers clean your houses (bathrooms, carpets) if these birds are so sensitive to fumes? What about washing your clothes in Tide, etc.? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated so I can switch over before Nokey comes home

[The Outlaw]

Silicon is fine. Its actually a sand/glass product. Teflon is a whole nuther kind of finish.

Here is a brief discussion on the subject of silicon cookware:

http://dld123.com/q&a/qandatemp.php?id=Q24