PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene is a fluoropolymer.
It is used in non-stick coatings and consists of a chain of thousands of carbon atoms, with two fluorine atoms attached to each carbon atom. This structure makes PTFE not absorbed by the human body and therefore safe for health.
It also makes it exceptionally resistant to high temperatures and highly "sliding," giving it non-stick properties that are ideal for producing a highly effective coating for cooking and frying pans.
Our PTFE coatings are suitable for cooking. Always use according to instructions.
Health organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have recognised PTFE in coatings as a material that is suitable for contact with food.

PTFE is one of the basic materials used in the formulation of non-stick coatings.
It is produced by leading international chemical companies, selected as part of Groupe SEB's responsible purchasing policy (according to ethical, social and environmental criteria) and on the basis of strict specifications. These companies are regularly inspected.

PTFE coatings are chemically inert, and studies have confirmed that PTFE is not absorbed into the body, even if it is ingested accidentally.
Health organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have recognised PTFE in coatings as a material that is suitable for contact with food (link to studies).

Yes, it contains PTFE, wich not pose any safety risk, and it is important to understand why. Our non-stick coating contains PTFE, which is a specific type of PFAS. But not all PFAS are the same. Our pans do not contain the types of PFAS that health organisations consider harmful. Studies have concluded that PTFE coatings do not pose a safety risk because they consist of molecules that are polymerised and tightly bound to the kitchenware.

Our non-stick coating contains PTFE, which is a fluoropolymer and therefore a specific type of PFAS. We have consciously chosen PTFE as the chemical for our coating and PTFE coatings are approved for food contact by health authorities. In addition, we conduct active quality control for for several other PFAS substances:

1. We impose strict chemicals specifications to our PTFE raw materials and coatings suppliers
2. We perform regular tests on finished products made with PTFE coatings, for many unintended PFAS compounds
3. Our tests are carried out by independent and accredited laboratories that use the market's most advanced test method

Our RENEW cookware range features an INOCERAM ceramic coating which, by its chemical nature, contains no PFAS.

PTFE in coatings is approved for food contact by health authorities in Europe and the USA based on their assessments that the material's properties do not pose a safety risk during normal use of intact kitchenware. PTFE coatings are, however, chemically inert, and studies have confirmed that PTFE is not absorbed into the body, even if it is ingested accidentally. However, scratches can reduce the kitchenware's non-stick properties, so we advise you to use it in accordance with the instructions for use and replace it if the coating is damaged.

Groupe SEB always places the wellbeing of its customers at the heart of its concerns. In this respect, our Group is consistently acting to be ahead of current national and international regulations.
We therefore reassure you that we follow with great attention the updates from all qualified authorities on the compliance of our products and claims, and are always acting accordingly. Our teams are currently closely monitoring the developments following the publication of the draft of the PFAS restriction report, as published by ECHA.

For chemicals in general, there are three routes of exposure: ingestion, inhalation, skin contact.
For a line worker, the most likely route of exposure is by inhalation due to other personal protective equipment (gloves, work clothing) and the rules at the station (prohibition of eating at the station). Wearing respiratory protection was made compulsory in 2015 for the handling, formulation and coating of PTFE-based coatings, de facto reducing this risk.

We are committed at all stages of our manufacturing processes to respecting prevention principles:

• Selection of the most suitable raw materials from a health-safety-environment point of view
• Capturing emissions and protecting employees at source. For example, our PTFE spray lines are all equipped with source suction at all emissive stages of the process. Devices make it possible to continuously monitor the proper functioning of these measures.

To learn more about the assessments of the relevant authorities regarding PTFE, please click here.