PFAS Cookware State Bans: Which States & What's Banned

PFAS Cookware State Bans: Which States & What's Banned | R3

Reality Check

What brands claim

If a pan says PFOA-free, it has no PFAS

What it actually means

PFOA-free means one specific compound - perfluorooctanoic acid - has been removed. PTFE, the primary nonstick coating material, is itself a PFAS polymer. A pan that is PFOA-free but coated with PTFE still contains intentionally added PFAS. Every state that bans PFAS in cookware bans PTFE-coated pans regardless of PFOA-free claims. This is why California's AB 1200 prohibits 'PFAS-free' claims on PTFE-containing pans - the claims were being used to mislead consumers about what was actually in their cookware.

What is PFAS Cookware State Bans?

For decades, the nonstick coating on your frying pan - and later your air fryer basket - was essentially unregulated. Manufacturers could use PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, sold as Teflon) and other fluoropolymer coatings freely, market their products as "PFOA-free," and face no legal obligation to disclose that those coatings belonged to the PFAS chemical family. That era is ending state by state.

Beginning January 1, 2025, Minnesota banned the sale of cookware containing intentionally added PFAS - making it the first US state to outright prohibit nonstick pans with Teflon-style coatings. Colorado, Illinois, Vermont, and Maine followed with bans taking effect in 2026. Connecticut and Rhode Island come next in 2027-2028. New Jersey enacted cookware disclosure requirements in early 2026 with a ban phasing in by 2028. California's legislature passed an outright ban in 2025 that Governor Newsom vetoed, but the state already enforces AB 1200 disclosure requirements - and another ban attempt is widely expected.

Taken together, these laws cover a significant share of the US consumer market. For families buying air fryers and cookware, the practical question is straightforward: does this pan or basket contain PFAS? An expanding list of states now says that if the answer is yes, the product cannot legally be sold there.

What "Intentionally Added PFAS" Means Legally

Every state ban hinges on this phrase: intentionally added PFAS. The legal definition matters because it draws a line between deliberate use and contamination.

Across all major state laws, "intentionally added PFAS" means PFAS that a manufacturer deliberately includes in a product or component to provide a specific characteristic, appearance, quality, or function. The chemical must be present because the manufacturer chose to put it there - not as trace contamination from recycled materials or background manufacturing.

The definition has one critical expansion: the use of PFAS as a processing aid, mold release agent, or manufacturing intermediate counts as intentional addition IF the PFAS is detectable in the finished product. This closes a common industry loophole - the argument that PFAS used during manufacturing were never "added to the product" because they were applied to molds or equipment rather than the coating itself.

For cookware, the practical meaning is clear: a PTFE nonstick coating is intentionally added PFAS. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is itself a member of the PFAS chemical class - a fluoropolymer with the distinctive carbon-fluorine bonds that define the entire category. When state laws ban intentionally added PFAS in cookware, they ban PTFE. This is not a legal ambiguity; it was explicitly confirmed by Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency guidance and upheld by a federal court when the Cookware Sustainability Alliance challenged the ban.

Why PTFE Is a PFAS: The Chemistry That Changes Everything

The cookware industry spent years successfully distinguishing PTFE from the PFAS compounds (primarily PFOA) that generated the most concern. PTFE, manufacturers argued, is chemically inert, does not leach, and is structurally different from the short-chain PFAS linked to health harms. That argument worked in Congress and with the FDA. It has not worked in state legislatures.

State laws adopt the broadest scientific definition of PFAS: any substance with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. PTFE has an entire backbone of fully fluorinated carbons. Under this definition, PTFE is unambiguously a PFAS. When the Minnesota law took effect in January 2025, Teflon-coated pans became illegal to sell in Minnesota. The Cookware Sustainability Alliance - representing brands including Farberware, Circulon, T-fal, All-Clad, and Tramontina - filed an emergency challenge in federal court seeking a preliminary injunction. On February 25, 2025, Judge Tunheim denied the injunction, finding the Alliance unlikely to succeed on the merits and affirming Minnesota's authority to regulate cookware PFAS.

For families: if you see a pan labeled Teflon, DuPont PFAS coating, or any nonstick coating described as fluoropolymer, PTFE, PFA, or FEP - that product contains intentionally added PFAS and cannot legally be sold in states with active bans.

State-by-State Status

The regulatory landscape is moving fast. Here is the full breakdown as of March 2026.

Minnesota: First and Furthest

Minnesota's HF 2310 - signed by Governor Walz in May 2023 and commonly called Amara's Law - was the first comprehensive PFAS-in-products law in the US to include cookware in a first-wave prohibition. The cookware ban took effect January 1, 2025, as part of a phased rollout affecting 11 product categories simultaneously. Minnesota's law covers any household product used to prepare, dispense, or store food or beverages that contains a food-contact surface with intentionally added PFAS.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency explicitly confirmed that PTFE (Teflon) falls within the ban. Reporting requirements were separately delayed to July 2026, but the sales prohibition is fully in force. A 2025 amendment added certain exemptions for "currently unavoidable uses" - but these exemptions do not apply to cookware, where the MPCA found that PFAS-free alternatives (ceramic, stainless, cast iron) are widely commercially available.

Colorado: First 2026 Enforcer

Colorado's Consumer Products PFAS Act (enacted 2022) phased cookware into its ban effective January 1, 2026. The law covers cookware that contains intentionally added PFAS in any food-contact surface. Colorado's approach mirrors Minnesota's structure: no grandfathering for existing inventory, no threshold below which PFAS are permitted. Enforcement is through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Illinois: Broad 2026 Ban

Illinois enacted a comprehensive consumer product PFAS law prohibiting the distribution or sale of cookware containing intentionally added PFAS effective January 1, 2026. Illinois bundled cookware with cosmetics, children's products, personal care items, and food packaging in a single prohibition framework - making Illinois one of the most comprehensive state bans in scope for the 2026 enforcement year.

Maine: Most Ambitious Timeline

Maine's PFAS in Products law is the broadest in the US by scope. For cookware specifically, Maine's prohibition takes effect January 1, 2026 - aligning with Colorado and Illinois. Products containing intentionally added PFAS in food-contact surfaces cannot be sold or distributed in Maine after that date.

Maine's broader framework extends beyond cookware: additional product categories follow through 2029 (outdoor apparel, artificial turf) and 2032 (all remaining consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS). Maine amended its law in 2024-2025 to shift the general consumer product ban from 2030 to 2032 and to add additional exemptions, but the cookware prohibition at 2026 was preserved unchanged.

Vermont: 2026 Ban with 2028 Updates

Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed S 25, banning the sale and distribution of new cookware containing intentionally added PFAS effective January 1, 2026. Vermont subsequently amended the law with HB 238 in June 2025, updating certain compliance details through 2028. Vermont's cookware ban is active - PTFE-coated air fryers and pans cannot be sold in Vermont as of January 2026.

Rhode Island: 2027 Effective Date

Rhode Island's PFAS Ban Act of 2024 prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of cookware containing intentionally added PFAS starting January 1, 2027. Rhode Island bundled cookware with children's products, cosmetics, food packaging, and textiles in a single prohibition framework.

Connecticut: Ban with Labeling Bridge

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 292 in June 2024, taking a two-step approach. Beginning January 1, 2026, cookware and other covered products containing intentionally added PFAS must be labeled. Beginning January 1, 2028, the sale of those products is prohibited. Connecticut's approach gives manufacturers a two-year warning period (labels first, ban second) - a structure designed to allow supply chains to transition.

New Jersey: 2028 Prohibition with 2026 Labeling

Governor Phil Murphy signed S 1042 (the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act, PAFCA) on January 12, 2026. Beginning in 2028, the statute prohibits the sale of cookware containing intentionally added PFAS in food-contact surfaces. Before the 2028 ban date, the law requires disclosure labeling for cookware that contains intentionally added PFAS - a structure similar to Connecticut's approach. New Jersey also funded source reduction and research programs through the same legislation.

California: Disclosure Now, Ban Status Uncertain

California is the most complicated state in this landscape. AB 1200 - the California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021 - requires cookware manufacturers to disclose intentionally added chemicals on their websites (since January 2023) and product labels (since January 2024). AB 1200 is a disclosure law, not a ban: PTFE-coated pans remain legal to sell in California as long as they are properly disclosed.

In September 2025, the California legislature approved SB 682, which would have banned PFAS in cookware by 2030 and in other consumer products by 2028. Governor Newsom vetoed SB 682 in October 2025, citing concerns about the impact on affordable cookware options. The veto was immediately criticized by EWG and other public health groups. A renewed legislative effort is widely anticipated in 2026.

As of March 2026, California cookware manufacturers face disclosure requirements but not a ban. However, a California ban would represent the largest US market affected - making its trajectory closely watched by the industry.

Washington: Reporting Rule Adopted

On November 20, 2025, the Washington Department of Ecology adopted a rule requiring manufacturers to report intentional use of PFAS in cookware and kitchen supplies, with reporting requirements taking effect January 1, 2026. Restrictions on sales are set to follow on January 1, 2027. Washington's approach - data collection first, restriction second - gives the state a regulatory basis for enforcement while completing its evaluation of safer alternatives.

State Table

The state_table field below provides a structured reference for legislation status.

How These Bans Affect Air Fryer Manufacturers

The air fryer category sits at the intersection of the cookware ban wave in a particularly direct way. Most traditional air fryers use PTFE-coated baskets - the same fluoropolymer coating as nonstick frying pans, applied to mesh or perforated steel baskets to prevent food from sticking during high-heat convection cooking.

Under Minnesota's ban (January 2025), Colorado's ban (January 2026), Illinois' ban (January 2026), and Maine's ban (January 2026), these products cannot legally be sold. The compliance question for manufacturers becomes: do you reformulate the basket, or do you exit those markets?

The manufacturing response has split into several strategies:

Ceramic coating transition. Brands including Ninja, Cosori, and several European manufacturers have released air fryer models with ceramic sol-gel coatings in place of PTFE. Ceramic coatings do not contain PFAS and have no disclosure or ban compliance issues - though they are generally less durable than PTFE and require more careful use.

Stainless steel baskets. Some manufacturers have moved to bare stainless steel baskets, which are inherently PFAS-free but require more cooking oil and different technique to prevent sticking. Stainless baskets are fully compliant in all states.

Some manufacturers sell PTFE-coated models for states without bans and PFAS-free alternatives for ban states - though this creates inventory complexity and is likely a transitional strategy rather than a long-term business model.

Where it's found

Retailer shelves in ban states - where PTFE-coated pans have been or are being removed from legal sale

Air fryer and cookware product listings where manufacturers now specify ceramic or stainless baskets to comply with multi-state bans

State environmental agency websites - Minnesota PCA, Colorado CDPHE, Illinois EPA, Maine DEP, Vermont DEC, Rhode Island DEM

Health concerns & context

Health concerns

The PFAS cookware state bans exist because of substantial and growing evidence that PFAS chemicals in food-contact cookware surfaces pose real health risks - particularly from degraded or scratched coatings used at high temperatures.

PTFE itself is the primary coating at issue. While intact PTFE is considered chemically inert at normal cooking temperatures, PTFE begins to degrade above approximately 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius), releasing polymer fumes that cause polymer fume fever in humans and are acutely lethal to birds. Air fryers can reach and exceed these temperatures during high-heat operation, and scratched or worn PTFE surfaces increase the rate of particle release at lower temperatures.

Beyond PTFE itself, PFAS processing aids used during PTFE coating manufacture - including legacy PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and newer short-chain replacements - can migrate from coatings into food. PFOA was classified as a Group 1 confirmed human carcinogen by WHO/IARC in December 2023. Other PFAS compounds have been linked to thyroid disruption, immune suppression, reduced vaccine effectiveness, and adverse reproductive outcomes.

A 2025 UNC study found that food preparation methods - including cookware type and food contact packaging - contribute meaningfully to household PFAS exposure alongside water and food sources. The studies supporting these bans reflect a scientific consensus that the burden of proof for PFAS safety in food-contact applications has not been met, and that readily available PFAS-free alternatives make continued use of PFAS in cookware unnecessary.

How to reduce exposure

Choose [air fryers](/category/air-fryer) and [cookware](/category/cookware-set) with genuinely PFAS-free cooking surfaces. Ceramic nonstick (sol-gel), stainless steel, cast iron, and carbon steel all contain no intentionally added PFAS and are legally compliant in every state with an active ban. For families already using PTFE-coated cookware: replacing scratched, chipped, or heavily worn pans is more important than discarding intact ones. Intact PTFE at low-to-moderate cooking temperatures releases far less material than worn surfaces. Avoid preheating empty PTFE-coated pans, and keep cooking temperatures moderate. But the cleanest long-term choice - and the one that aligns with where state regulation is heading - is transitioning to PFAS-free cookware surfaces.

Who is most at risk?

Families in ban states buying cookware or air fryers - they may unknowingly purchase products that cannot legally be sold in their state if retailers have not cleared PTFE-coated inventory
Consumers who rely on "PFAS-free" marketing claims on nonstick cookware - these claims may be unlawful under state ban laws and California AB 1200 if the product contains PTFE
Parents of young children who cook frequently in PTFE-coated air fryers or pans at high temperatures - the exposure scenario with highest PFAS release potential from degraded coatings
Budget cookware buyers - PTFE products are often cheaper than ceramic or stainless alternatives, and state bans effectively remove low-cost PFAS-containing options from compliant retail channels
Air fryer users in ban states where even budget PTFE-basket models cannot legally be sold - a significant subset of the air fryer market

How to read the label

Look for these

Ceramic nonstick - sol-gel ceramic coatings contain no PFAS and are compliant in all states
Stainless steel basket or cooking surface - inherently PFAS-free, compliant in all ban states
Cast iron or carbon steel - naturally free of any nonstick coating, no PFAS compliance issue
NSF 537 PFAS-free certification (launched March 2025) - third-party verified total organic fluorine below detectable limits on the finished product
Explicit statement: 'No intentionally added PFAS' combined with disclosure of coating material (e.g., ceramic, stainless, enamel)

Watch out for

PTFE, Teflon, Fluon, or any fluoropolymer nonstick coating - banned in Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Vermont (all effective 2025-2026) and several more states through 2028
PFOA-free without PFAS-free - this legacy claim removes one compound while PTFE (itself a PFAS) may remain
PFAS-free on a product with a nonstick coating that is not specified as ceramic or stainless - unverifiable claim without disclosed coating material
Nonstick without material specification - diamond, granite, marble, titanium, and similar trade names are almost always PTFE-base coatings

What this does NOT cover

State PFAS cookware bans cover intentionally added PFAS in food-contact cookware surfaces - they do not address PFAS contamination in food itself from other sources (water, packaging, agricultural inputs). Most bans cover household cookware but may have narrower or broader definitions for commercial restaurant equipment. California's AB 1200 is a disclosure-only law and does not ban any cookware from sale. Federal law does not currently ban PFAS in cookware coatings. State bans do not retroactively require consumers to dispose of PFAS-containing cookware they already own - they restrict new sales and distribution. And bans do not prevent PFAS from appearing as contamination through recycled materials, only intentional addition.

How to verify

For ban states: check your state environmental agency's website for the active product prohibitions list. Minnesota PCA's 2025 PFAS prohibitions page and Colorado CDPHE's PFAS product law guidance both confirm cookware coverage. For California: search the brand name plus 'AB 1200' to find the manufacturer's chemical disclosure page and verify whether PTFE or other PFAS appear in the food-contact surface. For product certification: search NSF's certified products database at nsf.org for NSF 537 PFAS-free certification - the most rigorous third-party verification available for cookware. For any state: if a retailer is still selling PTFE-coated cookware in a ban state and the product's compliance status is unclear, contact the state environmental agency's enforcement division.

State-by-state status

State	Status	Effective Date	What Is Banned
Minnesota		January 1, 2025
Colorado		January 1, 2026
Illinois		January 1, 2026
Maine		January 1, 2026
Vermont		January 1, 2026
California		January 2023 (website) / January 2024 (label)
Rhode Island

Timeline

May 2023
Minnesota Signs Amara's Law (HF 2310)
Governor Tim Walz signs HF 2310, establishing the nation's most extensive state PFAS product prohibition law. Cookware is included in the first wave of product bans with a January 2025 effective date.
October 2021 - January 2024
California AB 1200 Takes Effect in Stages
California's Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act - a disclosure law, not a ban - requires website chemical disclosure for cookware sold in California (January 2023) and physical label disclosure (January 2024). First US law to target PFAS in cookware specifically, though through transparency requirements rather than prohibition.
2022
Colorado PFAS Consumer Products Act Passed
Colorado enacts its Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals Consumer Protection Act, phasing in a cookware ban with January 1, 2026 as the enforcement date for the cookware category.
June 2024
Connecticut SB 292 Signed
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signs SB 292 requiring PFAS labeling for cookware effective January 2026, followed by a full sales prohibition effective January 2028.
January 1, 2025

Frequently asked questions

Which states have banned PFAS in cookware?

As of March 2026, five states have full bans in effect: Minnesota (January 2025), Colorado, Illinois, Maine, and Vermont (all January 2026). Rhode Island and Washington bans take effect in 2027. Connecticut and New Jersey phase in full bans in 2028. California requires disclosure under AB 1200 but does not yet have an outright ban after Governor Newsom vetoed SB 682 in October 2025.

Does the PTFE Teflon coating in my air fryer count as PFAS?

Yes. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), sold commercially as Teflon, is a PFAS polymer - it has a backbone of fully fluorinated carbon atoms, which is the defining structural characteristic of the PFAS class. Every state that bans intentionally added PFAS in cookware bans PTFE. Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency explicitly confirmed this, and a federal court upheld Minnesota's right to regulate PTFE as a PFAS when the cookware industry challenged the ban in January 2025.

What does 'intentionally added PFAS' mean and why does it matter?

Intentionally added PFAS means PFAS that a manufacturer deliberately included in a product or component to serve a specific function - like nonstick properties, heat resistance, or reduced friction. It excludes PFAS that are present only as trace contamination from recycled materials. The practical effect: a PTFE-coated basket is banned because PTFE was intentionally applied. A stainless steel basket with microscopic PFAS contamination from an adjacent manufacturing process would not be banned under this definition.

Is it illegal for me to use a PTFE-coated pan I already own in a ban state?

No. State PFAS cookware bans prohibit new sales and distribution. They do not require consumers to dispose of PFAS-containing cookware they already own. You can continue using existing pans. The ban applies to manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers - not to individual households.

What happened to California's PFAS cookware ban?

California's legislature passed SB 682 in September 2025, which would have banned PFAS in cookware by 2030. Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill in October 2025, citing concerns about the impact on affordable cookware. California continues to enforce AB 1200 disclosure requirements - manufacturers must disclose PFAS in cookware they sell in California - but outright prohibition is not yet law. Advocacy groups immediately called for new legislation in 2026.

How do these bans affect what I can actually buy in a store?

In Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, and Vermont, retailers should not be selling new PTFE-coated cookware or air fryer baskets. Compliant products use ceramic nonstick, stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel. If you see PTFE-coated products on shelves in those states, the retailer may be in violation. In non-ban states, PTFE products remain legal to sell. Nationally, the ban wave is pushing manufacturers to release more PFAS-free variants, so your options for compliant products are growing even in states without active bans.

Are ceramic-coated air fryers compliant in all ban states?

Yes, if the ceramic coating is a genuine sol-gel ceramic without PFAS. Ceramic sol-gel coatings - like those used by GreenPan (Thermolon), Caraway, Our Place, and an increasing number of air fryer manufacturers - contain no intentionally added PFAS and are legally compliant in every state that has enacted a PFAS cookware ban. Make sure the product explicitly says 'ceramic' rather than 'diamond nonstick' or 'granite finish,' which are often PTFE-base coatings with mineral branding.

What should I look for when buying a new air fryer given these bans?

Look for air fryers with baskets explicitly identified as ceramic nonstick or stainless steel. These are genuinely PFAS-free and compliant in all ban states. Avoid models where the basket material is described only as 'nonstick' or 'easy-clean' without specifying the coating material - these terms are typically applied to PTFE coatings. If you live in a ban state and see a product without a clear coating material disclosure, ask the retailer or contact the manufacturer before purchasing.

Related terms

Regulation / Standard

California AB 1200 (Safer Cookware Act)

California's 2021 Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act, which bans PFAS in plant-fiber food packaging (effective January 2023) and requires cookware manufacturers to disclose intentionally added chemicals on their websites and product labels (website disclosure January 2023, label disclosure January 2024). AB 1200 was the first US law to specifically target PFAS in cookware through mandatory transparency requirements and is a direct response to decades of inadequate federal regulation of nonstick coatings.

Air FryerCookware Set

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Chemical / Ingredient

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

Sources & citations

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PFAS Cookware State Bans