StarPack · Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
2-Pack Kitchen Tongs Silicone
Lower concern. Silicone tongs unlikely to contain PFAS.
Silicone kitchen tongs carry lower PFAS risk compared to traditional nonstick cookware. The brand makes no PFAS claims, but silicone itself doesn't need fluorochemical treatment.
The safe swap
GreenPan
GreenPan Platinum Silicone Tongs
90/100 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
silicone (non-stick, heat-resistant polymer)
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.
Silicone degradation and leaching
Lower-quality silicone can degrade or become sticky when repeatedly exposed to oils, high heat, or prolonged storage. StarPack does not publish material grade or testing standards; degradation may release trace oligomers into food, though health significance remains understudied for food-contact silicone kitchen tools.
Microfiber or particulate shedding
Worn or low-quality silicone can shed fine particles into food during use. Risk increases with repeated high-heat exposure and mechanical stress; regular inspection minimizes this risk.
What’s reassuring
Safe base material
Made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.
Teflon-type coating contamination (if hybrid construction)
Pure silicone tongs do not contain Teflon-type coating. If these tongs have a hidden Teflon-type coating inner sleeve or coating, overheating would present fume risk; no evidence suggests StarPack uses this hybrid design, but the product description does not explicitly exclude it.
Heavy metals
Food-grade silicone is rarely pigmented with lead or cadmium-based colorants. StarPack provides no material data sheet; if the colored portions are dyed silicone, no specific recalls or testing failures are on record for this brand.
Source, FDA ↗Metal joint corrosion or leaching
If the tongs contain stainless steel joints or handles, corrosion risk is minimal. StarPack does not document joint material; stainless steel is standard in this price tier and poses negligible lead or cadmium risk.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These tongs are constructed from food-grade silicone, a synthetic polymer that does not contain the ceramic glazes, enamel coatings, or metal cores that drive hazard risk in traditional cookware. Silicone is thermally stable and non-reactive with food across normal cooking temperatures (up to roughly 400-500°F depending on quality). Unlike Teflon-type coating-coated cookware, silicone does not produce toxic fumes if accidentally overheated, and it does not leach aluminum or cadmium because there is no substrate material to degrade.
The brand's record and disclosure
StarPack maintains no published transparency on PFAS content or third-party safety testing for this product line. The brand has no documented safety recalls related to silicone tongs in widely available records. As a mid-market cookware accessory brand, StarPack does not appear in major compliance controversies, though the absence of voluntary disclosure is unremarkable for this product category and price tier. No certifications (e.g., FDA food-contact approval statements) are readily documented.
How it compares in its category
Silicone tongs represent a safer alternative to metal tongs with welded joints (risk of lead in solder in older stock) and wooden tongs treated with unknown finishes. They outperform nylon tongs, which can shed microfibers and degrade faster. Compared to high-end stainless steel tongs, silicone offers simpler maintenance and lower contamination risk, though it trades durability; silicone tongs typically last 3-5 years with regular use before the grip or seal degrades.
If you buy it
Inspect the silicone for cracks or peeling before first use and every 6-12 months; discard if the grip material detaches or shows permanent heat damage. Do not expose to direct flame or temperatures above 500°F (many silicone kitchen tools degrade or soften above 400°F). Wash by hand or in the top rack of the dishwasher; high-heat drying cycles may accelerate aging. Replace after 3-5 years or sooner if the silicone becomes tacky, discolored, or begins to flake.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 75% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- StarPack has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
GreenPan
Platinum Silicone Tongs
silicone, stainless steel handle
Silicone degradation and leaching
Limited concern
Color dyes or pigments in silicone
Limited concern
Bacterial growth in grip seams or joints
Limited concern
Silicone tongs lower PFAS concern, but verify specific batch claims independently.
⚠Risky category by default
GreenPan
Williams Sonoma Greenpan Premiere Collection Wide Tongs
stainless steel with silicone handle
Silicone handle degradation
Limited concern
Stainless steel tongs with PFAS-free claim; lower concern for non-coated utensil.
⚠Risky category by default
T-fal
Tefal Ingenio K2060714 Steel Food Tongs
stainless steel, bare uncoated
Nickel leaching from stainless steel
Limited concern
Sharp edges or burrs from manufacturing
Limited concern
Bare stainless steel tongs carry no coating-related PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
More parchment paper & baking liners 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.