PTFE and PFAS in air fryers and pans: which UK models say what
What it is
PTFE is the non stick coating many people know as Teflon. It is one of the PFAS. (Ecology Center) opens in a new tab A pan sold as “PFOA free” can still have a PTFE coating. (Ecology Center) opens in a new tab Several US states now ban cookware with PFAS added on purpose, starting with Minnesota in January 2025. (BCLP) opens in a new tab
What we found
Where it turns up in a kitchen
Parts our sources describe as coated, by how the product’s PTFE and PFAS line reads. Counts are products, from the records we checked.
| Part | Products | Free from | Contains | Not found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crisper plate, tray, grid or rack | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooking surface of a pan | 8 | 8 | ||
| Basket, drawer, bowl or container | 7 | 6 | 1 | |
| Handle | 1 | 1 |
What the rules say
| Where | Rule | Status | Date | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 as retained in GB (assimilated law), Annex I entry 'Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds'The source says: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds | In force | 04/07/2020 | legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) |
| Great Britain | The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1217)The source says: come into force on the day after the day on which they are made | In force | 16/11/2023 | legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) |
| Northern Ireland | Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants, applying in Northern Ireland under the Windsor FrameworkThe source says: Under the Framework, the EU POPs Regulation applies directly in NI. | In force | 01/01/2021 | assets.publishing.service.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) |
| EU | Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants, Annex I, as amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/784 (PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds)The source says: This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. | In force | 04/07/2020 | eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) |
| EU | Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, Annex I, as amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1608 (PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds)The source says: shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. | In force | 28/08/2023 | eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) |
| EU | Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (recast), Annex I Part A entry 'Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS)' (entry substituted by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1203); PFOS first listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 by Commission Regulation (EU) No 757/2010The source says: Therefore PFOS should be listed together with the other eight substances in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004. | In force | 26/08/2010 | eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) |
| EU | Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462 amending REACH Annex XVII (undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and related substances)The source says: Shall not, from 10 October 2026 be placed on the market, or used | In force | 10/10/2026 | eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) |
| EU | Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR), Article 5(5)The source says: restrictions on PFAS in food contact packaging if they exceed certain thresholds | In force | 12/08/2026 | environment.ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) |
| France | France: Loi n° 2025-188 du 27 février 2025 visant à protéger la population des risques liés aux substances perfluoroalkylées et polyfluoroalkyléesThe source says: Sont interdites, à compter du 1er janvier 2026, la fabrication, l'importation, l'exportation et la mise sur le marché à titre onéreux ou gratuit de : 1° Tout produit cosmétique contenant des substances perfluoroalkylées et polyfluoroalkylées ; | In force | 01/01/2026 | legifrance.gouv.fr (opens in a new tab) |
| US California | California AB 1200 (2021), Health and Safety Code sections 109000 to 109014 (cookware chemical disclosure) | In force | 01/01/2023 | leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (opens in a new tab) |
| US Colorado | Colorado SB24-081 (2024, chapter 147), building on HB22-1345The source says: On and after January 1, 2026, as part of the product phaseout timeline, | In force | 01/01/2026 | leg.colorado.gov (opens in a new tab) |
| US Connecticut | Connecticut General Statutes section 22a-903c (Public Act 24-59)The source says: On and after January 1, 2028, no person shall manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in this state | In force | 01/07/2026 | portal.ct.gov (opens in a new tab) |
| US Maine | Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 section 1614, subsection 5, paragraph B-1(2)The source says: effective January 1, 2026, a person may not sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in this State: | In force | 01/01/2026 | legislature.maine.gov (opens in a new tab) |
| US Minnesota | Minnesota Statutes section 116.943 (Amara's Law), subdivision 5(a)(3)The source says: Beginning January 1, 2025, a person may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale in this state | In force | 01/01/2025 | revisor.mn.gov (opens in a new tab) |
| US Vermont | 9 V.S.A. section 2494f (Act 131 of 2024, as amended by Act 54 of 2025 (H.238))The source says: [Subdivision (a)(4) effective July 1, 2028.] | Adopted, applies from a future date | 01/07/2028 | legislature.vermont.gov (opens in a new tab) |
Proposed, not yet law
- Great Britain: Defra consultation on potential amendments to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation 2026 (draft Statutory Instrument) (proposed, 18/03/2026). consult.defra.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
- Great Britain: HSE, Analysis of the most appropriate regulatory management options (RMOA) for PFAS under UK REACH (announced, not in law, 03/04/2023). hse.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
- Great Britain: UK REACH restriction proposal: PFAS in firefighting foams (HSE Annex 15 dossier) (proposed, 18/08/2025). consultations.hse.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
- UK: Defra, PFAS Plan: building a safer future together (policy paper) (announced, not in law, 03/02/2026). gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
- EU: REACH Annex XV restriction proposal on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), submitted by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden (proposed, 13/01/2023). echa.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
The general rules for every material that touches food apply too: see them on the hazards page.
How to read a claim
“PFOA free” does not mean PTFE free
A pan can be free from PFOA and still have a PTFE coating. Scanpan says this pan is PFOA free; Ecology Center tested it and found PTFE.
“Made without intentionally added PFAS”
This says PFAS were not added on purpose. It does not say a test found none. We show it as a brand claim with conditions.
GreenPan:
PFAS-free non-stick is made without intentionally added PFAS
See the record for GreenPan BarcelonaA claim that covers one part only
Here “PFAS-free” is attached to the glass basket. The ceramic coated crisper plate is not named in the claim.
Cuisinart:
The PFAS‑free glass basket and ceramic‑coated non‑stick crisper plate deliver crispy results using little to no oil
See the record for Cuisinart ClearView Glass 3.8L Air FryerA product page against its own manual
Instant’s UK product page says the coating is PFAS free. Instant’s UK manual says the trays have a PFAS non-stick coating. We show both and do not recommend it until Instant replies.
Sources
- Ecology Center, What's Cooking? 2021 update (opens in a new tab), checked 08/10/2026
- BCLP, PFAS in cookware: state by state regulations (opens in a new tab), checked 08/10/2026
- Product facts: each record’s own sources, shown on its page.