Joseph Joseph · Silicone Cutting & Prep Boards
Pop 6-piece Sunrise Cutting Mat Set
Cutting mats are lower concern for PFAS exposure; no coating signals identified.
Joseph Joseph Pop mats are bare elastomer or rubber without nonstick, water-resistant, or Teflon-family coating documented. No brand PFAS disclosure exists, but the material class carries lower inherent PFAS risk than treated cookware.
The safe swap
Tovolo
Tovolo TrueBake Silicone Baking Mat
80/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or rubber; non-coated base
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
TPE off-gassing (volatile organic compounds)
New TPE and rubber products commonly release minor odors in the first few days to weeks; this is typically not a health hazard but indicates volatile organic compounds present. Ventilation and washing reduce this quickly.
Microplastic shedding from surface wear
Repeated cutting and scraping on TPE surfaces can shed microscopic elastomer particles; while food-contact risk is low during normal cutting (most particles land on cutting surface rather than food), very fine particles may enter food in rare cases over extended use.
Thermal degradation at high temperatures
Placing hot cookware directly on TPE mats or using near high heat can soften the material and potentially release oligomers (uncrosslinked polymer chains); this risk is low in normal cutting board use but increases if mat is positioned near stove burners.
Bacterial growth in grooves if improperly cleaned
Like all cutting mats, deep knife marks create crevices where bacteria can survive if the mat is not thoroughly washed and dried; this is a hygiene concern rather than a chemical one, managed by proper cleaning.
What’s reassuring
Safe base material
Made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.
Lead
No recalls or test reports document heavy metal presence in Joseph Joseph TPE mats. Colored TPE products can theoretically contain heavy-metal-based pigments, but major kitchenware brands typically use approved azo or organic dyes.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This set uses TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), a synthetic rubber polymer that does not require protective coatings like Teflon-type coating or ceramic glazes. TPE is inherently non-porous and does not leach metals such as lead or cadmium since it contains no glazes, enamels, or ceramic finishes. The non-coated base means there is no degrading coating layer to shed particles into food over time, which is a known risk with some cookware.
The brand's record and disclosure
Joseph Joseph is a UK-based kitchenware brand with a solid track record for consumer safety and no major cookware-related recalls or contamination incidents on public record. The company does not publish detailed PFAS avoidance statements for this product category, though the choice of TPE base rather than Teflon-type coating-coated surfaces suggests PFAS exposure is not a design pathway. No certifications such as FDA food-contact approval or third-party safety testing are widely advertised for this specific mat set.
How it compares in its category
Cutting mats as a category present lower chemical hazard risk than coated cookware because they do not typically reach high temperatures or have protective coatings that can degrade. TPE mats are safer than PVC-based alternatives, which may release phthalates under stress or heat. Compared to silicone or rubber mats, TPE offers comparable safety with slightly better durability and less odor off-gassing in new products.
If you buy it
Wash before first use to remove any manufacturing residue and minor odor common to new TPE products. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct heat above 60 degrees Celsius (140°F) to prevent material softening, and do not use under hot cookware directly from stovetop. Hand wash with mild soap; dishwasher use is not recommended as heat cycles may accelerate material degradation. Replace if surface develops cracks, deep grooves, or odor that persists after washing, as these signal material breakdown.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Joseph Joseph has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Silicone Cutting & Prep Boards
Silikomart
Silicone Grip Mat
silicone rubber grip mat, non-coated
Siloxane leaching (low-molecular-weight oligomers)
Limited concern
Microparticle shedding from grip surface
Limited concern
Mold or bacterial growth in surface texture
Limited concern
Low concern; silicone grip mats rarely contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Pyrex
Rockler Silicone Project Mat
silicone
Bacterial or mold growth if unmaintained
Limited concern
Migration of manufacturing residue or plasticizers
Limited concern
Silicone project mat carries low concern; no coating risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Pyrex
1, Size: 29cm/11.42 x 26cm/10.24 (Approx.)40cm/15.75 x 30cm/11.81 (Approx.)50cm/19.69 x 40cm/15.75 (Approx.)60cm/23.62 x
borosilicate glass
Thermal shock fracture and cutting hazard
Moderate concern
Lid or handle coating hazards
Limited concern
Minimal concern. Pyrex borosilicate glass is inherently PFAS-free.
⚠Risky category by default
More silicone cutting & prep boards grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.