Words like “non-toxic” and “PFAS-free” are used loosely in shopping. This page explains how we handle them, so you can judge our work.
What we do, and what we don’t
- We summarize public evidence. We read statutes, agency documents, peer-reviewed studies and tests by organizations such as Consumer Reports and the Ecology Center. We tell you what they found and what they didn’t.
- We don’t lab-test products. We have no lab and we do not claim to have tested anything.
- We don’t tell you a product is “non-toxic” or “PFAS-free.” We don’t say that in our own voice, because we can’t verify it. The FTC’s Green Guides say a non-toxic claim likely conveys that a product is non-toxic for humans and the environment, and that marketers need competent and reliable scientific evidence or must qualify the claim.1 CR’s experts call “PFAS-free” misleading because there are thousands of PFAS and most tests look for fewer than a hundred.2 Instead we report what a brand claims, what testing exists and what is unknown.
- We treat “PFOA-free” as a different claim from “PFAS-free.” PFOA is one PFAS.3
The three evidence tiers
Every product-specific statement on this site falls into one of three tiers, and we say which.
| Tier | Meaning | How we word it |
|---|---|---|
| Test-documented | A named lab or organization tested a specific product and published method, date and results. | “In 2022, Consumer Reports tested… and did not detect any of the 96 PFAS it looked for.” We always add the limits: which chemicals, how many samples, which product. |
| Material-based expectation | No product test, but sources say a type of material is not expected to contain PFAS because of how it is made. | “CR says uncoated cast iron is unlikely to contain PFAS.” We say “expected” and not “is.” |
| Claim only | The brand or seller says it. We have no independent evidence. | “The brand states…” We never repeat it as fact. |
Words we use, and words we avoid
| We say | We don’t say |
|---|---|
| “The brand states the coating is PTFE-free.” | “This pan is PTFE-free.” |
| “No PFAS were detected in the 96 chemicals tested.” | “This pan has no PFAS.” |
| “PTFE is a PFAS; here is what the agencies say.” (see the pillar guide) | “All nonstick pans are dangerous.” |
| What each agency or study found, with its caveats. | “Teflon is poison,” or “Teflon is perfectly safe.” |
| “We could not find a test of this.” | “Studies show…” without naming them. |
Where facts come from
- Primary sources first. Statutes, regulations and agency pages are cited to the original. State laws are linked to the legislature’s text, and we say when we read a bill or a summary instead.
- Reputable secondary sources when primary sources don’t exist. Examples are independent testing organizations and university extension services. We name the author or organization, the date and the method.
- Brand statements only as claims. We quote what a brand says on its own label or page and attribute it.
If a page or paper blocks our access, we say so in the source note rather than implying we read it in full.
Dates and re-checking
Every page shows a “Last verified” date, which is the last day we opened its sources and checked the facts. Laws, test results and product lines change. We re-check the page with the oldest verification date first, and we update the date only after checking. If a source changes or disappears, we change or remove the claim.
Health and legal content
We include a not-medical-advice note where relevant. We describe what agencies, researchers and regulators have said, with their caveats. We don’t tell individuals what is safe for their health. Our law summaries aren’t legal advice, and the laws may have changed since the date shown.
Independence and affiliate links
No brand reviewed, sponsored or paid for the pages published at launch. We have no live affiliate links at launch. If we add them, we will label them clearly and explain what we earn. See the affiliate disclosure. The affiliate disclosure page cites the FTC’s Endorsement Guides on this point.
What we don’t do
- No fake reviews, testimonials, “expert” personas or stock author bios. Pages are signed by the Pith & Peel Home editorial team.
- No invented numbers, quotes or test results.
- No tracking scripts. See privacy.
Corrections
If you find an error or a source that no longer says what we said, email howmuchmore.co@gmail.com with the page and the source. We will check it and correct the page.
Known limits
- Our evidence is only as good as what is public, and for many products nothing is public.
- Most published cookware tests cover small numbers of products and specific dates.
- We began with cookware and the registry. Other categories, including beauty, are not covered yet.