Key takeaways
- Several US states — including Minnesota, Colorado, Maine and Vermont — now ban cookware with intentionally added PFAS.
- Connecticut requires labeling from July 2026 before its ban in 2028; New Jersey has passed labeling rules starting in 2028.
- Uncoated stainless, carbon steel, cast iron and certified PFAS-free ceramic coatings are the simplest compliant routes.
This article is a general overview for buyers, not legal advice. PFAS rules change frequently; confirm current requirements with counsel or your testing lab before you ship.
Why cookware is in the spotlight
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) include PTFE, the polymer behind classic nonstick coatings, as well as processing aids historically used to make it. Because there is no comprehensive federal cookware rule in the United States, individual states have moved first with reporting, labeling and outright sales bans.
State rules affecting cookware
| State | Requirement | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| California | Disclosure and labeling of PFAS in cookware | 2023 onward |
| Minnesota | Sales ban on cookware with intentionally added PFAS; manufacturer reporting | Ban from January 2025; reporting in 2026 |
| Colorado | Sales ban on cookware with intentionally added PFAS | January 2026 |
| Maine, Vermont | Sales bans covering cookware | January 2026 |
| Connecticut | Labeling and notification, followed by a ban | Labeling July 2026; ban January 2028 |
| Rhode Island | Sales ban covering cookware | January 2027 |
| New Jersey | Bilingual “contains PFAS” labeling for cookware | January 2028 |
Because most bans apply to anyone who sells or distributes the product in the state, retailers and marketplace sellers are exposed — not just the brand owner.
What “intentionally added” means in practice
Laws generally target PFAS added on purpose to provide a function, such as a PTFE nonstick layer or a fluorinated handle coating. That covers coatings, but also less obvious places: handle sprays, gasket compounds and release agents. Your bill of materials should list every coating and polymer on the product, with a supplier declaration for each.
Compliant construction options
- Uncoated stainless — tri-ply or encapsulated with satin or honeycomb-textured interiors.
- Carbon steel and cast iron — pre-seasoned with vegetable oil.
- Sol-gel ceramic coatings — silica-based nonstick systems marketed as PFAS-free; ask for the coating maker’s declaration and third-party total organic fluorine (TOF) results.
- Silicone bakeware and utensils, which are not PFAS-based materials.
Documentation to request from your factory
- Coating supplier declaration naming the coating system and confirming no intentionally added PFAS.
- Third-party test report (often TOF screening) on the finished article.
- Food-contact migration report for the destination market (FDA, LFGB or EU 1935/2004).
- Label artwork review if you sell PFAS-containing products into labeling states.
Claims such as “PFOA-free” are no longer enough: PFOA has been phased out for years, and regulators focus on the whole PFAS class.
Frequently asked questions
Is PTFE nonstick banned in the US?
There is no nationwide ban, but several states, including Minnesota, Colorado, Maine and Vermont, ban selling cookware with intentionally added PFAS, which includes PTFE coatings.
Is ceramic nonstick PFAS-free?
Sol-gel ceramic coatings are generally formulated without PFAS, but you should obtain the coating supplier’s declaration and third-party test results for the finished pan.
Does “PFOA-free” mean PFAS-free?
No. PFOA is only one PFAS chemical. A PTFE-coated pan can be PFOA-free and still contain intentionally added PFAS.
