The dimensions stated on the packaging are usually internal but in all cases a small diagram shows what the dimensions correspond to; you should refer to this diagram to interpret them.
NO. Cookware items with Tefal/T-fal non-stick coating do not contain PFOA. This is regularly checked by independent laboratories, which verify the absence of PFOA in the finished products. Since 2003, tests have regularly been performed by these independent laboratories in many countries (Aromalyse and Ianesco in France, TüvSud in Hong Kong and SGS in China). These tests have systematically proven the absence of PFOA in products with Tefal/T-fal non-stick coating.
It is very rare for the non-stick coating to wear off under normal household use. Proper use and care will allow for better performance over time. Most cases of non-stick wearing have evidence of overheating, scratching and/or abrasive cleaning.
Tefal/T-fal, as part of its commitment to Quality, has included "Health and Environment" Eco information on its non-stick Tefal/T-fal products. This commitment guarantees the absence of PFOA, lead and cadmium in Tefal/T-fal coatings and the guarantees that our non-stick products are harmless for the environment and the consumer. This Eco information is based on the regular analysis conducted by independent laboratories in many countries (INERIS in France, ASAHI GLASS FLUOROPOLYMERS in UK, FABES Labs in Germany, MB Labs in Canada, SGS in China). This commitment can be found on the website of the Tefal/T-fal brand, as well as the packaging of cookware with non-stick Tefal/T-fal coating.
There is, at the moment, much confusion about non-stick coatings, which are sometimes related to PFOA. However, Tefal/T-fal non-stick coatings are made of PTFE, the abbreviation of the scientific name Polytetrafluoroethylene, and this material is recognised as harmless by public health agencies in Europe and in the United States. PFOA and PTFE are two completely different elements. In summary, cookware with Tefal/T-fal non-stick coatings are made of PTFE and do not contain PFOA. Furthermore, for more than 20 years, Tefal/T-fal made a commitment not to use lead or cadmium in the whole of its cookware range in order to serve as a guarantee of the harmlessness of all its products.
PFOA is the standard English abbreviation of perfluorooctanoic acid. On its finished products, Tefal/T-fal's commitment is to guarantee the absence of PFOA, lead and cadmium and to guarantee that its products with Tefal/T-fal non-stick coating are harmless for the environment and the consumer.
There is neither cadmium nor lead in the non-stick coatings and enamel of our Tefal/T-fal cookware. All of our cookware has been designed and manufactured without lead or cadmium for more than 20 years. You can find this Eco information on the packaging of all our products with Tefal/T-fal non-stick coating.
Tefal/T-fal non-stick coating is a technical coating made from a polymer name polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It is PTFE which gives the cookware the non-stick properties. Public health authorities in Europe and in the USA (ANSES, EFSA, FDA) demonstrated that PTFE is an inert substance which does not chemically react with food, water or domestic cleaning products. It is totally harmless in case of ingestion. These Public health authorities confirmed the harmlessness of PTFE non-stick coatings in cookware. In fact, PTFE is so safe that it is frequently used in the medical profession to coat pacemakers and the tiny tubes made to replace arteries. It is also used for surgical procedures for the benefit of patients with severe kidney disease, and some joint prostheses are also partly coated with PTFE.
