How the grades work
The whole system in three steps:
Every product starts at 100.
A perfect score, until the evidence says otherwise.
Warning signs take points away. Proof gives points back.
A Teflon coating costs 50 points. A clean lab test earns 40 back. Every factor is listed below.
The final number is a clear band.
75+ Excellent, 50 to 74 Good, 25 to 49 Poor, under 25 Bad. Green means go, red means avoid.
PFAS first, then everything else
The headline grade is PFAS. Every product gets a 0–100 score for forever-chemical risk, shown as a band from Bad to Excellent. That is what the big number means.
Other hazards stack below it. Depending on the product, we also check the risks that actually apply to it, a plastic bottle for BPA, phthalates and microplastics; fish for mercury and heavy metals; cosmetics for endocrine disruptors and parabens. Each one gets its own rating and a link to the government source behind it. These never inflate the PFAS grade; they sit underneath it so you see the full picture.
The hard rule: any product with a confirmed PFAS compound or a fluorinated (Teflon-type) coating is capped at Poor or worse, no matter what else is going for it. One serious hazard cannot hide behind good marks elsewhere.
The grade scale
Excellent (75–100/100)
No PFAS indicators, a top-graded pick.
Good (50–74/100)
Low PFAS concern, minor unknowns.
Poor (25–49/100)
Meaningful PFAS concern or a confirmed coating.
Bad (0–24/100)
PFAS confirmed or highly likely. Avoid.
What takes points away
The longer and redder the bar, the harder it hits the score.
Teflon (PTFE) coating confirmed
−50
Teflon-family (fluoropolymer) coating detected
−45
Non-stick coating, chemistry not disclosed
−40
PFAS detected in lab testing
−40
Waterproof or stain-resistant treatment
−35
Riskier product category to begin with
up to −30
Unknown or proprietary coating
−25
Government recall or advisory
−25
Stain-resistant finish
−20
No PFAS statement found from the brand
−15
Vague safety claims only ("non-toxic", no specifics)
−10
What earns points back
Evidence that points away from PFAS, weighted by how strong the proof is.
Lab test found no PFAS
+40
Third-party verified PFAS-free
+30
Bare uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, glass)
+20
Base material not linked to PFAS (ceramic, mineral, natural fiber)
+10
Brand itself claims PFAS-free
+10
Beyond PFAS, hazard flags and the Verdict
The Bad-to-Excellent grade measures PFAS risk only, and it stays that way. Separately, every product gets a deep analysis covering the other established hazard classes for its category: heavy metals like lead and cadmium in ceramic glazes, PTFE fume risk, BPA and phthalates in plastics, formaldehyde and azo dyes in textiles, 1,4-dioxane and talc in personal care, flame retardants in furniture. Each is reported as a qualitative level, None known / Possible / Reported / Likely, never a band grade, because public information about these hazards does not support that precision.
The Verdict (Buy / Buy with care / Skip) synthesizes the PFAS grade, the hazard flags, and the brand’s record into one recommendation, with two hard rules no analysis can override: a product graded Poor or Bad for PFAS is always Skip, and a Likely non-PFAS hazard caps an otherwise clean product at Buy with care. Buy links follow the Verdict.
Important
These scores are model-based estimates from product materials and publicly available information. They are not laboratory certifications. We phrase results as “likely contains PFAS-related materials” or “no evidence of PFAS found in reviewed sources.” For decisions that matter, confirm directly with the manufacturer or an accredited lab.
Now put it to work
Search anything you own and read its grade with this rubric in hand.