Teflon · Silicone Cutting & Prep Boards
Non Slip Mat For Cutting Board
Skip this. Teflon involves PFOA-related PFAS; try rubber or silicone instead.
Teflon is a Teflon-type coating Teflon-family coating with historical ties to PFAS contamination during production. Rubber or silicone non-slip mats give you a lower-concern option for food preparation.
The safe swap
Tovolo
Tovolo 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
Teflon-type coating (Teflon) non-slip coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
PTFE / Teflon confirmed
Contains Teflon-type coating, also called Teflon, a type of PFAS.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
Teflon-type coating degradation and particle shedding
While Teflon-type coating is stable under normal cutting board use, physical wear, scratching, or thermal stress over months to years can cause the coating to flake or shed fine particles. Inhaled particles are the primary concern; ingestion risk is low because the mat does not contact food directly.
PFAS
Teflon-type coating production and application historically involve PFAS-based surfactants and processing aids, even in modern formulations marketed as PFOA-free. These residual PFAS can migrate into dust or be released during manufacturing, though direct consumer exposure from a finished mat is minimal compared to heated cookware.
Source: ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Substrate material leaching (rubber or fabric backing)
The non-Teflon-type coating substrate (rubber, fabric, or composite) is not well documented in public records for this specific Teflon product. Potential concern exists if the backing contains phthalates or other plasticizers, but no recalls or incidents are on record for this product category.
Allergen or irritant off-gassing from adhesives or backing
No documented cases of VOC or formaldehyde off-gassing from Teflon-branded cutting board mats have been reported. However, the adhesive bonding the Teflon-type coating coat to the substrate is not publicly disclosed and could theoretically release volatile compounds if the mat is stored in a warm, humid environment.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This mat uses Teflon-type coating (polytetrafluoroethylene, marketed as Teflon) as the non-slip coating bonded to a substrate, typically rubber or fabric. Teflon-type coating itself is chemically stable at room temperature, but the manufacturing process and historical formulations involved PFOA and related PFAS "forever chemicals" (PFAS). Even modern Teflon-type coating production may involve PFAS-related chemicals, and degradation or wear of the coating over time can create dust or particles. For a non-slip mat used under cutting boards (low heat, no direct food contact), the migration risk is lower than for cookware that heats, but the underlying PFAS manufacturing concern remains the core safety issue.
The brand's record and disclosure
Teflon (DuPont and successor Chemours) has a documented history of PFOA use and environmental contamination lawsuits dating to the 1990s-2000s. The company has phased PFOA out of most consumer products but has not publicly committed to eliminating all PFAS from its supply chain or manufacturing. Chemours maintains that modern Teflon is safe when used as directed, but does not voluntarily disclose PFAS content or independent third-party testing results for consumer products. No specific certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX, Cradle to Cradle) are publicly associated with Teflon-branded cookware accessories.
How it compares in its category
Non-slip mats for cutting boards are most commonly made from natural rubber, silicone, or cork-rubber blends, none of which require PFAS-based coatings. Rubber and silicone alternatives provide equivalent non-slip performance without the PFAS manufacturing legacy or chemical exposure concerns. Teflon-type coating-coated mats are less common in this category specifically because the non-slip function does not require the heat and non-stick properties that justify Teflon-type coating use in cookware. Switching to a rubber or silicone mat is a straightforward substitution with no performance trade-off.
If you buy it
Keep the mat away from direct heat and do not place it in a dishwasher or expose it to temperatures above 70-80 degrees Celsius, as Teflon-type coating can degrade and shed particles if stressed thermally. Inspect the coating regularly for wear, peeling, or discoloration, and replace if the surface becomes rough or visibly damaged. Hand wash with mild soap and water only. Do not use abrasive scrubbers or solvents on the Teflon-type coating surface, as this can accelerate coating degradation and increase particle release into the air.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 85% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Teflon 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.