‘Forever Chemicals’ Fight Heats Up in Kitchens

By John Keilman | The Wall Street Journal | February 12, 2025

Read the full article by John Keilman (The Wall Street Journal)

"A fight over nonstick pans has moved to the front burner in Minnesota.

The state last month became the first to ban the sale of cookware containing the so-called “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. The move is part of a wider effort across the country to crack down on the synthetic compounds, some of which have been linked to cancer, liver damage and fertility issues.

The ban has thinned the variety of cookware available in Minnesota stores and surprised some consumers. Sara Bohjanen, whose dishwashing stints had inspired her and her fiancé to put a nonstick pot on their wedding registry, switched to a stainless steel model after learning their first choice could no longer be sold in the state.

“If I have to go back to soaking the eggs off I guess that’s what I have to do,” said Bohjanen, a 26-year-old medical student who lives in Woodbury, Minn."