Non-stick cookware health warning.

[graemer]

Is anyone taking notice of the teflon health warnings and throwing out their non-stick cookware? Apparently caged birds in the vicinity are dropping dead!

[JoCannon]

I thought I was the only person in the world to notice that. My house mate just thought I was nuts when I started talking about it a few weeks ago.

You have made my day.....

[netibiza]

What is it all about?  I haven't heard anything.

[FP]

It has always been known not to use teflon products near caged birds, so I through mine out ages ago when I kept C0ckateils and budgies.

[FP]

ps  Perhaps an exaggeration to say 'always been known', but I knew when I was keeping birds 13 years ago!

[JoCannon]

I simply thought Teflon were having a laugh, checking if people really do read those warnings that go on and on.

Like the "This product contains nuts" warning on a packet of Peanuts.

[FP]

It's the chemicals released from teflon when it is heated that are the problem.  Once I knew about it killing caged birds, I decided that I really wouldn't use it any more even though the birds have gone.  Don't want to take any chances.    I don't know when the health warnings started to appear. 

[FP]

I can't spell - 'threw' not 'through'!

[evertonsue]

Is this true ? because I often have my caged bird in the kitchen for a change of scenary!

[FP]

Completely true evertonsue.  So many people actually have their birds in kitchens, too.  Mine were in a conservatory which led off from a kitchen.  I can't remember how I found out - it was probably from my vet, or from reading books about caged birds.

[FP]

Good source of info

http://www.parrotline.org/teflon.html

Have just read that bread making machines (which get very hot and usually have non stick coated bread tins are extremely dangerous to birds as they are hot over a very long period.

[FP]

Out of interest, please don't forget that cigarette smoke can also adversely affect birds if they come into contact with loads of it (i.e. some pubs have parrots in their bars!)

Don't forget that canaries were used in mines to detect gas and fumes (they dropped dead).  There breathing system is much more sensitive than ours.  Quite interesting to read about.

[ursula62]

Surely keeping a caged bird in a food preparation area is as unhygienic as keeping a cat litter and dog bowl in there?

When I had caged birds they were never kept near the kitchen and I always used the extractor fan and opened the kitchen window while cooking.

For the record though, this warning has been around for about 15 years.

[londondave]

if yo have a bird then make sure it is well away from the kitchen when using teflon. shut the doors in between and open the kitchen window. here is a thread on products that have teflon in them

http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/community/showthread.php?t=4943

[graemer]

Hi All! Sorry I went bed after posting the Q. I was unaware of all this until I saw a story on the telly. They had a Scientifc type bloke who measured the fumes coming off while the pan was heating and cooking. The hotter the pan the more dangerous. Apart from birds dropping dead apparently the fumes can cause serious flu-like symptons in humans. I'm sure you wouldn't want youngsters around it.

Thanks to my secretary FP for handling the mail while I slept.

Glad I made your day JoCannon, with such a gloomy thread!

[graemer]

Also here is an interesting article about the threat to humans and the flu symptons. It also includes repsonses from Du Pont, the manufacturer.

http://www.yourlawyer.com/practice/news.htm?story_id=9465&topic=Teflon

[FP]

Demoted from No.2 wife to Secretary!!!!

[graemer]

You're always No.1

[Trillipse]

my non-stick pan came into contact with pheasant recently.

i know who came off worse...

[misska]

I would also be worried about the effects of teflon on humans especially on children. I want to get rid of our teflon pan but my boyfriend won't let me. I'll just have to put my foot down :-)

Heres a great site which tell you about the side effects of teflon and other PFC chemicals (and also about chemicals in cosmetics etc):

http://www.ewg.org/reports/pfcworld/es.php

[Gef]

Another load of nonsence. Pity though as it might have led to a way of getting rid of pigeons (vermin) in our towns and cities.