California lawmakers are poised to vote on **SB 682**, a proposed ban on the sale of non-stick cookware and corded kitchen appliances throughout the state. This legislation, which is set for a decision on **September 12, 2025**, could have significant repercussions for consumers, local businesses, and the state’s economy.
The **Cookware Sustainability Alliance (CSA)** strongly opposes this measure, citing that it would eliminate safe, affordable cookware options for California residents. The proposal has emerged from growing concerns regarding **PFAS** (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a category encompassing over 15,000 chemicals. Critics argue that broadly labeling all PFAS as harmful lacks scientific support.
Fluoropolymers, commonly used in non-stick cookware coatings, primarily include **polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)**, which is deemed safe for food preparation by both the **U.S. Food and Drug Administration** and the **European Food Safety Authority**. These materials are non-toxic, inert, and do not bioaccumulate, making them suitable for everyday kitchen use. Remarkably, fluoropolymer coatings are also utilized in medical devices such as pacemakers and catheters.
The potential consequences of passing SB 682 extend beyond individual consumer choice. If implemented, the ban could:
Limit Consumer Options: Non-stick frying pans make up more than half of all frying pan sales in the U.S. Families and restaurants value these products for their affordability, durability, and convenience. A ban would restrict choices available to consumers.
Increase Costs: Replacing non-stick cookware could financially burden the average California household by an estimated **$300** per set. Restaurants, still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and grappling with high grocery prices, could face thousands of dollars in additional costs. Small, locally-owned establishments may be particularly vulnerable to these financial strains.
Threaten Jobs: California is home to approximately **110,000 restaurants** and **1,000 food trucks**, many of which rely on non-stick cookware. The **$2.5 billion** U.S. cookware industry supports countless jobs across manufacturing, distribution, and retail sectors. A ban could eliminate an estimated **6,500 jobs** in California alone and hinder port activity.
Increase Landfill Waste: The premature disposal of millions of pots and pans would exacerbate existing waste management challenges in California.
Steve Burns, President of the CSA, expressed strong concerns about the implications of SB 682: “This legislation would upend California kitchens overnight. Lawmakers could ban safe, heavily regulated products that millions of families and restaurants use every day—driving up prices, killing jobs, and sending tons of cookware to landfills. We need common sense solutions to address harmful PFAS, not a sweeping ban on a completely safe product based on politics rather than science.”
The CSA advocates for collaborative approaches that protect consumer safety and environmental integrity based on scientific evidence, rather than imposing blanket bans. For further information on PTFE safety and consumer choices regarding cookware, individuals can visit [protectsafecookware.com](https://protectsafecookware.com/).
The **Cookware Sustainability Alliance** is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization led by cookware manufacturers, dedicated to providing informed, science-based insights into cookware product safety for consumers and policymakers.
