Non-stick coatings, what's the risk?

At Maison Vayrou, we don't see cooking as merely an art of taste. For us, it's also a matter of health, common sense, and sustainable choices. When we develop our stainless steel utensils, we do so with a simple requirement: to enable you to cook healthily, without compromising on performance.

But what exactly does it mean to cook healthily?
Today, we invite you to take a step back and collectively question a deeply ingrained standard in our kitchens: non-stick coatings.

A convenient market… but not so clean

Let's be honest: non-stick pans are convenient. We use them without thinking, to cook a pancake, eggs, a steak… And yet, beneath their smooth surface often lies a far less reassuring reality.

At the origin of most of these coatings are PFAS, a family of chemical substances used since the 1950s. Their particularity? Extreme resistance to heat, water, oil… and time. Perhaps too much.

PFAS: what are we talking about?

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, include more than 4000 chemical compounds. They are found in non-stick pans, certain waterproof textiles, food packaging, and even cosmetics.

Their commonality? These molecules hardly degrade in the environment. As a result, they accumulate in nature… and in our bodies.

A study by Santé Publique France (Esteban, 2019) revealed that 100% of the participants tested – both adults and children – showed traces of PFOA and PFOS, two of the best-known PFAS, now banned in the European Union.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

What are the health risks?

Research on PFAS is multiplying, and the results are chilling. Here are some suspected or confirmed effects:

• Decreased immune response (especially in children)

• Increased cholesterol

• Hormonal and thyroid disruptions

• Fertility problems

• Increased risk of certain cancers (kidney, testicular)

PFOA, for example, has been classified as a "probable carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. And yet, the vast majority of non-stick coatings currently on the market still contain PFAS.

Eternal substances in our environment

What makes these compounds so problematic is also their extreme persistence. Once released into the environment, they accumulate in soil, water, air… and end up on our plates via the food chain. They are sometimes called "forever chemicals".

And despite their danger, only a handful of these substances are currently strictly regulated.

(Too) gradual awareness

In Europe, some PFAS like PFOA and PFOS are already banned. Others may soon follow.
A project for a complete ban is currently under study at the European Union level, with a decision expected by 2026-2027.

In the meantime? Millions of pans, pots, and other utensils continue to be sold each year, with no real transparency about their composition.

At Maison Vayrou, we made a different choice

Rather than playing hide-and-seek with controversial compounds, we chose clarity:
- Zero coating on our utensils.

- 100% 18/10 stainless steel, an inert, healthy, and infinitely recyclable material

- Sustainable manufacturing for products that last for years without degrading, neither for you nor for the planet.

In summary: what type of pan to choose?

If you're looking to cook with confidence, opt for simple, stable, and healthy materials.
Stainless steel, for example, releases no toxic substances even at high temperatures, and offers you perfect control over your cooking.