Readers: Sticky About Teflon

The Teflon Lawsuit Blotter item produced some intriguing leads and cynical responses from our blotter readers. 

Comments:

"Everyone who has used Teflon coated cookware experienced the burned or charred coating after heavy use. The coating when heated changes chemical composition and flakes off only to be digested and yet the big brains in Dupont didn’t know this?? Give me a break."

"As usual, the EPA is ‘doing a heck of a job’ protecting us from the hundreds of unregulated and virtually untested chemicals in the products we use every day. Is it any wonder 1 out of 5 Americans get some kind of cancer?"

"Guys, come on. How many more lawsuits can you jump on the bandwagon of? If you haven’t gotten sick from it, what is the harm? Are you cooking your food at 500 degrees? If so, then you’re not using good sense. Let’s continue to blame big corps for our own stupidity. It’s the American way!"

"My daughter left a Teflon pan on a burner, and the fumes it gave off killed my macaw and orange wing Amazon parrot. The stuff is toxic, and I find it hard to believe there were no warnings given by the company."

"All these comments are nonsense. Anything when burned can cause temporary health problems. Smoke from a campfire can make you sick. Food will burn before the Teflon will. This is another case of corrupt people going after deep pockets. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW ANY SCIENCE! I am really getting sick of this behavior!"

"Personally, I plan to keep using Teflon. I have grown up with it, and I’m still healthy. My parents are in their 60′s, and they have no ill effects of years and years of using it. Just like I’ve said about second hand smoke…Maybe you get sick because you have a defective gene in your system."

DUPONT RESPONDS: 
DuPont insists that cookware coated with Teflon is safe when used properly and under normal cooking conditions. The company says the allegations made by the plaintiffs are "without merit."