Teflon & Parrots on Food Network Show

[yehudasf]

BS"D

I was quite pleased to catch an episode of "Good Eats" hosted by Alton Brown yesterday on Food Network. In an episode entitled "Myth Smashers" (skirting infringement issues with Myth Busters), the very first myth that was talked about was the toxicity of Teflon coated devices (cookware, irons, etc.) to psittazens. Mr. Brown made it quite clear that he never uses teflon coated cookery ware at anything over low-med heat settings, because the fumes are very likely toxic to humans. He was quite clear that this substance emits toxic fumes that will kill any bird in the vicinity, and should only be used (in any circumstance) with the greatest of caution, and very good ventilation. Hurrah for raising awareness, may many birds be saved by this programmes dissemenation!

[LMPego]

I love Alton Brown, and even more now.
Plus, maybe more people will trash their Teflon even if they don't have birds. Knowing what I know about Teflon, I don't want to eat food cooked in it!

[Peregrine Harlequin]

I've heard that Teflon can be deadly to birds, though I'm lucky enough to have never had any first-hand experience. And although I don't know anything about it (except that it's slick and BAD), I'll take a nice buttered up pan any day. If I'm gonna kill myself, I'd rather do it au naturel. Plus, butter tastes much better than some chemical compound.
(Please forgive any French mistakes, as I've only really ever studied English, 2 yrs. Latin, and 1 yr. German.)

[The Outlaw]

I love Alton Brown too. He approaches cooking like a chemistry teacher and explains how things work and why they interact as they do. As for Teflon, its only a matter of time before it dissapears from the cooking arena. Still, it bothers me that its showing up more and more in cleaning solutions and fabric finishes. We really need to read and educate ourselves. Our birds may be able to survive the occasional teflon exposure, but if our furniture is coated in the junk, our showers cleaned an coated with the stuff, our hairdryers and irons coated with the stuff, its simply TOO much. Be careful.

THE OUTLAW

[Lynjupiter]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

I love Alton Brown too. He approaches cooking like a chemistry teacher and explains how things work and why they interact as they do. As for Teflon, its only a matter of time before it dissapears from the cooking arena. Still, it bothers me that its showing up more and more in cleaning solutions and fabric finishes. We really need to read and educate ourselves. Our birds may be able to survive the occasional teflon exposure, but if our furniture is coated in the junk, our showers cleaned an coated with the stuff, our hairdryers and irons coated with the stuff, its simply TOO much. Be careful.
THE OUTLAW

Check out this link http://www.ewg.org:16080/reports/pfcworld/

The home page says
Toxic to animals and people
persistant forever
Pervasive in human blood
The EPA forced one perfluorochemical off the market. Another is under regulatory pressure. It is time to take a look at PFCs
A family of chemicals that contaminate the planet

[Lynjupiter]

I found this on the same website I quoted above in the section entitled Nonstick pans kill birds and found this interesting.
Did you know to check your light bulbs for teflon? They use the teflon to keep the bulb from shattering if dropped.

bird deaths related to nonstick coatings are not restricted to exotic species in the home. A recent article recounts that hours after moving 2400 broiler chicks to a research warehouse at University of Columbia-Missouri, veterinarians noticed that substantial numbers of chicks were dying. Four percent of the chicks died in the first four hours, and within 72 hours more than half of the chicks were dead. After investigating the possibility of many common gas toxicants, scientists traced the deaths to lightbulbs coated with the Teflon chemical PTFE: “Further investigation revealed that the only change in management practice in this facility prior to the onset of the severe mortality problem was the replacement of 48 heat lamp bulbs (one for each pen). The new heat lamp bulbs were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated. PTFE gas intoxication has been reported in several exotic avian species, but this intoxication has not been previously reported in a poultry flock.” [2].

Scientists have not identified the particular offgas compound from Teflon and other nonstick pans and other kitchen equipment that is responsible for the bird deaths, but among the many chemicals that have been measured in the air when nonstick pans are heated are PFOA and other gases that scientists consider highly toxic [3].

[mamalovesrico]

Yes, I heard that about light bulbs too. Pretty scarey how teflon is everywhere. Glad to hear it was announced on food network. Bet the teflon producers are a little P O'D about that one. You couldn't ask for a better station on which to announce it! :eusa_clap

[Skyebirdsmom]

Yes I saw that episode, and I posted about it the last time it was on. Only had one response to it, but at least it was read by others....HOPEFULLY! And I saw that it was on again the night before last. Alton Brown is probably my favorite personality on that network and I wrote an email to him praising what he had to say about it on a network that so many people watch! Yes, it IS about time it's addressed. Not ONLY for our birds health but ours too.
Linda & HRC~

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by mamalovesrico

Yes, I heard that about light bulbs too. Pretty scarey how teflon is everywhere. Glad to hear it was announced on food network. Bet the teflon producers are a little P O'D about that one. You couldn't ask for a better station on which to announce it! :eusa_clap

I bet they are PO'd too, but I think they need to finally be made to be responsible for what they are doing to us all. And if all that happens is it gets taken off the market...well, that's better than nothing and would make me happy. Just wait till it gets to the point of people seeking damages!!!! :eusa_clap
Linda & HRC~