My George Foreman email.

[damooster]

I sent an email to Salton, which is the maker of the George Foreman grill, asking them if they sold any George Foreman grills that didn't have the non-stick coating on them. I knew they didn't but that's my way of telling them they need to have an alternative for us bird lovers.

Here's the email that I got:

Thank you for your e-mail. We appreciate your interest in George Foreman products. We do not have any George Foreman products that are not coated with non stick coating. Please allow me to address your concerns.

The basic material in the non-stick coatings we use is polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. The effect of the pyrolysis products of overheated PTFE have been published for more than a quarter of a century.

This information can be found through your local library or through the Internet. One website to explore would be http://mynahbird.com/articles/fumes/fumes.html.

Since Salton electric kitchen appliances that are non-stick coated with PTFE are thermostatically controlled and designed to not reach temperatures which result in the breakdown of the non-stick coating.

Sincerely,

<I'm going to block her name>
Consumer Relations

Just thought I'd share all of this with you because the impression I get from this email is that they are claiming that their grills are safe for birds and I'm pretty sure that's still not the case.

[Monica]

We have one... and have used it too... with no ill effects.... would I recommend others to do the same? No. Why risk it at all if you don't have to? all we have are nonstick pans minus the cast iron one... and sadly, at least for now (or until I move out) getting stainless steel pans is out of the question.

Then again, for those who WANT to keep their George Foreman Grill, AND keep their birds safe, I suggest either using it in a well ventilated room (with birds in a room that is closed off) or using it outside....