Celebrity chefs are defending forever chemicals — but Mark Ruffalo isn't having it
California’s attempt to restrict forever chemicals in cookware unexpectedly triggered a celebrity food fight.
When lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 682 — a proposal that would have phased out products containing “intentionally added” PFAS by 2030 — celebrity chefs with nonstick cookware lines quickly pushed back.
Then Mark Ruffalo stepped in.
Suddenly, the debate over forever chemicals became less about legislation and more about who consumers should trust: celebrity chefs defending modern nonstick cookware or activists warning about long-term chemical exposure.
The celebrity chefs defending nonstick cookware
Several well-known chefs publicly opposed California’s PFAS proposal because their cookware brands rely on PTFE-based nonstick coatings.
Rachael Ray
Ray framed the issue as one about accessibility and practicality for families.
“As someone who’s spent her life fighting for better food, better choices, and better health — especially for kids and families — I respectfully ask you to vote against this proposed ban.”
Ray’s comments, reported by The New York Times, positioned modern nonstick cookware as a useful kitchen tool rather than a public health threat.
David Chang
Chang defended PTFE cookware by emphasizing its long history in both restaurant and home kitchens.
“PTFE, when manufactured and used responsibly, has been proven safe and effective in both professional and home kitchens for more than half a century.”
His argument, cited by CNN, focused heavily on responsible use and existing safety standards.
Thomas Keller
Keller warned lawmakers against eliminating cookware options without stronger evidence. “Removing these tools without a clear, fact-based foundation risks taking away an important option for cooks,” he wrote, per CNN.
Like Ray and Chang, Keller’s position centered on consumer choice and affordability.
Why Mark Ruffalo fired back
Mark Ruffalo has been outspoken about forever chemicals for years, most notably after starring in Dark Waters, the movie based on DuPont’s toxic PFOA pollution scandal.
After celebrity chefs opposed the bill, Ruffalo publicly criticized Ray on X.
“Rachael, I share your commitment to make people confident in the kitchen. Getting toxic chemicals like PFAS out of our cookware is just as important as choosing the right recipe.”
MORE INFO: How to choose the best non-toxic ceramic cookware for every type of cooking you do
His response quickly amplified the debate online, especially among consumers already skeptical of celebrity-backed products.
The California bill that started the fight
Senate Bill 682 would have banned products containing intentionally added PFAS by 2030, including cookware, food packaging and cleaning products.
The bill passed through the California State Legislature but ultimately failed after Gavin Newsom declined to sign it.
Newsom argued the proposal could limit affordable cookware options and create “a sizable and rapid shift in cooking products available to Californians” in a letter to the California Senate.
That affordability concern became one of the strongest arguments against the legislation.
What are forever chemicals?
Forever chemicals — or PFAS — are synthetic chemicals designed to resist heat, grease and water. They’re used in products ranging from waterproof clothing to food packaging and nonstick cookware.
Scientists estimate there are more than 14,000 PFAS compounds, per the Yale School of Public. Three of the most discussed include:
- PFOS — phased out in the U.S. in 2002, according to the National Toxicology Program (NTP).
- PFOA — once used in Teflon manufacturing before being phased out in 2015, per the NTP.
- PTFE — the nonstick coating, also known as Teflon, still commonly used today.
PTFE is now the center of the cookware debate because, unlike older PFAS chemicals, it remains legal and widely used. In fact, it’s the primary component in every one of your Teflon and nonstick pans.
Are nonstick pans actually dangerous?
The answer is complicated. According to the EPA, most Americans have already been exposed to some PFAS, and certain compounds can build up in the body over time.
Older PFAS chemicals like PFOA and PFOS have been linked to cancer, fertility issues and hormone disruption, which is why they were ultimately phased out.
Modern PTFE cookware, however, is generally considered safe during normal cooking conditions.
Experts say the biggest concerns happen when pans overheat above roughly 500 degrees Fahrenheit or when coatings become scratched and damaged.
One 2022 study published in Science of The Total Environment found broken nonstick coatings may release up to 2.3 million microplastic and nanoplastic particles.
Some scientists also argue the larger danger involves PFAS pollution during manufacturing.
“There is all this contamination that we need to clean up, and that’s going to take a while,” Harvard environmental chemist Elsie M. Sunderland told The New York Times. “We can turn off the tap on this problem. That’s what we can do right away.”
For consumers, that leaves an increasingly common question: when celebrities, lawmakers and scientists all disagree about forever chemicals, who should people actually believe?
