The Truth About Non-Stick: What Was Really in HexClad’s Pans

The lawsuit Cliburn et al. v. One Source to Market, LLC began in 2023 in the courts of California when HexClad was misleadingly advertising its products. The company stated that its products were PFOA-free, non-toxic, and PFAS-free (Cliburn V. One Source to Market, LLC D/B/a Hexclad Cookware, Inc.). The plaintiffs claimed that HexClad was guilty of "greenwashing"—"profiting off consumers' desire for 'green' products without actually being environmentally friendly"—as the statement that its products were PFAS-free was untrue because HexClad snuck in that their coating contained PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), a PFAS, in their FAQs section. In addition, HexClad was selling their pans for 100-200 dollars each because they claimed to be free of harmful chemicals (which is hard to find in non-stick cookware). However, a Teflon pan, which uses the same coating HexClad used that contained PTFE, could be bought for 20-30 dollars. In the midst of the lawsuit, HexClad quietly changed its PTFE coating to a ceramic coating called TerraBond™, which HexClad claims does not contain any PFAS, but the brand has yet to reveal the composition of the coating or any third-party testing (Kelly). Consumers are still skeptical of HexClad because the lawsuit exposed the whole scam, not to mention the shady act of changing its coating mid-lawsuit in 2024 without telling anyone (Gregory) (“Yale Experts Explain PFAS”). In the end, HexClad agreed to pay the 2.5 million dollar settlement, and customers are getting money back on purchases they made between 2022 and 2024 (MSN).

You might be asking- why is PFAS-free, nonstick cookware so high in demand? PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are known as forever chemicals because they never biodegrade. They remain in water, soil, and even our bodies for centuries and accumulate in the blood, liver, and kidneys over time (“Yale Experts Explain PFAS”). In 2022, the NIH identified over 150 PFAS compounds that are being studied for their potential health effects (“Is Hexclad PFAS free?”). PFAS are found in cosmetics, stain-repellent coatings like those in outdoor furniture, cleaning products, and dental products, as well as in items advertised as being easy to clean (“PFAS | Yale School of Public Health”). Even simple things like food and water may contain PFAS, as research found that beef was contaminated with PFAS as well as drinking water in all 50 states because there is little to no filtration for these chemicals in most tap water systems. One study revealed PFAS contamination in 39 of 100 bottled water products sampled. Even though no safe level of PFAS has been identified, in 2024 the EPA released, for the first time ever, drinking water standards that aim for no more than four parts per trillion and ideally zero PFOA and PFOS, because they are now recognized as human carcinogens under federal Superfund law. Now, states like New Jersey, Minnesota, Connecticut, and soon more are moving forward with more regulations, which are facing challenges from manufacturers. Similarly, in Europe, proposed bans of PFAS face significant opposition. PFAS contamination in drinking water primarily comes from the firefighting foam and has been used widely in airports, fire stations, and military organizations (“Yale Experts Explain PFAS”). Since the 1950s, people have been using PFAS, completely unaware of its severe growth, metabolism, and reproductive health effects. PFAS exposure is linked to a variety of effects such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, colitis, neurodegenerative issues in children, low birth weight, accelerated puberty, reduced fertility, endocrine disruption, and disruption of ovarian function (Ding et al.). As well as early-onset cancers, like colon, liver, kidney, and testicular cancer, in younger individuals, in addition to impairing the immune system, reducing vaccine effectiveness, and potentially increasing susceptibility to infections like COVID-19 (“Yale Experts Explain PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’”). Evidence that PFAS can accumulate in the brain, which can lead to toxic effects in the central nervous system, which may cause behavioral and cognitive disorders, has been proven with animal studies; however, whether it can accumulate in the same way in the human brain requires further testing (Cao and Ng).

One type of PFAS is PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), also known as C8 and a man-made chemical, is no longer used in cookware, and some states are banning it altogether (Gregory). PFOA repels water and oil due to its 8-carbon chain saturated with fluorine atoms, which is why it was used in cookware and marketed as non-stick (Hasini). In one study, when applied to the skin, 13.5% of it entered the bloodstream while 38% stayed in the skin, later entering the bloodstream, meaning that PFOA is easily absorbed, making it one of the most toxic of the PFAS (Winnington). Studies examining how PFOA harms the body found that PFOA entered the body through skin contact and intestinal absorption. Some effects like immunotoxicity in immune organs such as the spleen, bone marrow, and thymus were found (Liang et al.). In addition, studies have linked PFOA to reduced testosterone levels and, for women, abnormal sex hormone levels and increased risk of infertility and abnormal menstrual cycles (Shi et al.). In a study examining PFOA with thyroid dysfunction, researchers found that at extreme levels, a toxic effect became noticeable in thyroid cells. While you may be thinking that effects at extreme levels would never affect you, remember that PFAS don’t break down in your lifetime. So, a little bit each day from the meat you eat, the water you drink, the pan you use, etc. all builds up in your body over your entire life. The most consistent effect of PFOA found was hypothyroidism, and women and children were found to be more likely to develop mild thyroid failure (Coperchini et al.). Because of this, the EPA and others have started regulating PFOA because it has been identified as a known carcinogen. 

PFOA in pan coatings has now been replaced with PTFE, another PFAS, commonly known as the brand Teflon. According to Cancer.org, though no replacement for PFOA has been around long enough for researchers to understand the health effects, PTFE and others might very well have the same negative effects as listed above for PFOA. And it's important to note that PFOA was previously used in the production of PTFE to support this theory (Gregory). PTFE in pan coatings like HexClad’s can break down at high temperatures and release PFAS into the environment (“Is HexClad PFAS Free?”). Some sources have stated that Teflon pans are safe as long as they aren’t heated above 570 degrees Fahrenheit. While this may be true, scratches from abrasive washing or wear in general can cause some of the coating to flake onto your food. Some experts recommend you throw away your non-stick pans after they become scratched, however, in the case of HexClad, those pans are expensive and hard to recycle (Hirsh). Many people are at a loss for something as simple as which pots and pans to use. GreenMatters has put together a list of some alternatives to HexClad and Teflon pans: 

Stainless Steel- a metal alloy primarily made of iron, chromium, and nickel; doesn’t contain PFAS; affordable; however, it is not non-stick and not easy to clean (Hasini)

Cast iron- made of iron and steel so it is non-toxic; non-stick if seasoned properly; however, it can scratch glass stovetops and is not easy to clean

Enameled Cast Iron- made of cast iron and finished with porcelain enamel; non-toxic and non-stick; however, it is very expensive 

Ceramic- non-toxic and non-stick; however, some cheaper brands mix their coatings with Teflon, which adds PFAS but the brands that don’t do this are expensive

CITATIONS

Cao, Yuexin, and Carla Ng. “Absorption, Distribution, and Toxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Brain: A Review.” Environmental Science Processes & Impacts, vol. 23, no. 11, Jan. 2021, pp. 1623–40. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1em00228g.

Coperchini, F., et al. “Thyroid Disruption by Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA).” Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, vol. 40, no. 2, Nov. 2016, pp. 105–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0572-z.

Ding, Ning, et al. “Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Their Effects on the Ovary.” Human Reproduction Update, vol. 26, no. 5, Mar. 2020, pp. 724–52. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmaa018.

Gregory, Sarah. “I Tested the HexClad Cookware Set: Here’s How It Lived up to Its Claims.” Good Housekeeping, 10 Oct. 2024, www.goodhousekeeping.com/cooking-tools/cookware-reviews/a45035297/hexclad-cookware-review/#is-hexclad-cookware-safe.

Hasini, A. “What Is the Difference Between PFAS and PFOA.” Pediaa.Com, 18 June 2024, pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-pfas-and-pfoa.

Hirsh, Sophie. “Eco-Friendly Cookware: Which Pots and Pans Are Best?” Green Matters, 28 Mar. 2023, www.greenmatters.com/p/which-cookware-best-health-environment.

Kelly, Grace. “HexClad Pans Are Everywhere—But Are They Worth the Steep Price Tag?” Serious Eats, 26 Nov. 2024, www.seriouseats.com/hexclad-review-8418511.

Liang, Luyun et al. “Immunotoxicity mechanisms of perfluorinated compounds PFOA and PFOS.” Chemosphere vol. 291,Pt 2 (2022): 132892. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132892

Martinez, Marianne. “Hexclad Pans: Are They PFAS-Free?” CyCookery, 10 May 2025, cycookery.com/article/does-hexclad-pans-have-pfas.

Nt, Leigh Matthews Ba Hons, H. Dip. “PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE: Everything You Need to Know.” LeafScore, 17 Feb. 2025, www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-kitchen-products/pfas-pfoa-and-ptfe-everything-you-need-to-know.

Shi, Wenshan, et al. “Reproductive Toxicity of PFOA, PFOS and Their Substitutes: A Review Based on Epidemiological and Toxicological Evidence.” Environmental Research, vol. 250, Feb. 2024, p. 118485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118485.

Steenland, Kyle, and Andrea Winquist. “PFAS and Cancer, a Scoping Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence.” Environmental Research, vol. 194, Dec. 2020, p. 110690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110690.

Winnington, Paul. ““Forever Chemicals” Shown to Absorb Through Skin.” Dermatology Education Foundation, 25 June 2024, dermnppa.org/forever-chemicals-shown-to-absorb-through-skin.

“Is Hexclad PFAS Free? - Avoid Microplastics.” Avoid Microplastics, 22 Oct. 2024, avoidmicroplastics.com/hexclad-pfas.

“Yale Experts Explain PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals.’” Yale Sustainability, sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-pfas-forever-chemicals.

“PFAS | Yale School of Public Health.” Yale School of Public Health, ysph.yale.edu/public-health-research-and-practice/department-research/environmental-health-sciences/pfas.

“Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up.” National Academies Press eBooks, 2022, https://doi.org/10.17226/26156.

MSN. www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/the-cookware-brand-gordon-ramsay-reps-is-in-serious-trouble-over-nontoxic-claims/ar-AA1Gx6qh.

Cliburn V. One Source to Market, LLC D/B/a Hexclad Cookware, Inc. www.hexcladsettlement.com.