Cooking for your family is an act of love. But what if the cookware you use could harm your loved ones?
Traditional non-stick pans, or plastic prepware and food containers, could expose your family to forever chemicals. These are the synthetic substances that persist in the environment and often make their way into our bodies.
If you’re growing your family or already a parent, rest assured. Quality non-toxic cookware exists, making it easy to cook safe meals for your family — or pregnancy cravings for yourself. Keep reading to find out how you and your family can ditch the forever chemicals … forever.
The Problem With Traditional Cookware
Traditional non-stick pans, often coated with materials like Teflon® (PTFE), have long been a staple in kitchens. You might use one to effortlessly flip your pancakes or scramble some eggs. However, these conveniences come with a hidden risk: exposure to harmful chemicals. Did you know that it only takes 2.5 minutes for a traditional non-stick pan on high heat to exceed 500°F and begin releasing forever chemicals?
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in Teflon® coatings, have been associated with various health issues, including cancer, thyroid disorders, and developmental problems, according to the American Cancer Society and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
Traditional non-stick pans aren’t the only thing in your kitchen that might be hiding potentially dangerous materials. They could also be found in plastic containers or cutting boards. Recent studies have revealed the presence of microplastics in human bodies, including in placentas, blood, and breast milk. The health implications of these microplastics are still being researched, but their presence raises concerns about their impact on human health.
Protecting Expecting Mothers & Growing Families
It’s natural for expecting parents to worry about the health of their child.
Caitlin Johnson, a Registered Dietician who specializes in fertility and pregnancy, says it was a no-brainer to swap out plastics and Teflon®: “As a mother, someone who has struggled with infertility, and a functional medicine practitioner treating infertility and supporting families through their pregnancies, I made the switch to quality non-toxic cookware.”
If you’re pregnant or planning to grow your family, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) agrees with Caitlin’s choice. ACOG recommends avoiding Teflon® cookware due to its potential risks to fetal development.
ACOG points out that contact with toxic chemicals may be linked to early labor, low birth weight, or childhood development problems. When it comes to your cookware choices, this group of 60,000 ob-gyns, medical students, and other health care professionals advocate for safer alternatives such as ceramic-coated cookware or stainless steel pots and pans.
Caitlin says she sees evidence of these issues in her work. “As a fertility dietitian I see the long-term effects of PFOAs, PTFE, and micro plastics exposure impact the health of a menstrual cycle, time to ovulation and even egg quality,” she adds. Caitlin points to research, which indicates that exposure to these chemicals while a fetus is in utero can impact health, metabolism, and even reproductive outcomes in a child's life years from now.
“We often focus on the food choices we are making while pregnant or for our children,” Caitlin’s says, adding: “Yet something as important as how that food is prepared or stored can have a significant impact as well and requires more attention.”
Meal Prep: Safe & Simplified
If you already have kids, we’re sure you want them to be safe, too. But you also have a ton of other stuff on your plate. The last thing you need to worry about is whether your cookware is leaching harmful chemicals into your family's meals or leftovers. This is where non-toxic food prep and food storage staples come in, offering a safer solution without compromising on convenience.
You won’t find any microplastics in Caraway’s cutting boards or utensils made from FSC-certified birch wood, or have to worry about plastics leaching into your leftovers if you use ceramic-coated glass food storage.
By investing in non-toxic cookware, prepware, and food storage, parents can streamline their meal prep while prioritizing their family's health. With features like naturally non-stick surfaces and easy cleanup, these options make cooking a breeze, even on the busiest of days.
“You’ve heard that food should not be reheated in plastic containers, but many don’t consider the other step of eating leftovers: moving it from the hot pan into a storage container,” Caitlin points out. She regularly reminds her clients that putting boiling hot food from the pan into a plastic container while it cools is just as dangerous.
Caraway: A Safer Option for Family Cooking
At Caraway, we understand the importance of safe kitchenware for families. That's why we've crafted our products with non-toxic materials, ensuring that every meal prepared in our cookware is free from harmful chemicals.
Our cookware sets are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing — because parents deserve nice things, too. With features like magnetic pan racks and canvas lid holders, we've designed our products to simplify storage and organization, putting an end to kitchen chaos… or at least helping. You’re on your own with the kid’s mess!
By prioritizing non-toxic products in the kitchen, you can provide your family with meals cooked in safe and beautiful cookware. Peace of mind is the secret ingredient to a happy home.
