Air fryers are popular appliances that sit on your kitchen countertop, giving an elegant look and a decent finish. There are plenty of big brands that have their take on having the best air fryers on the market, but there is a twist to it.
Air fryers are considered safe and healthy but they have a prop 65 warning that indicates that they might have products that can yield potential harmful substances that can lead to cancer.
No, all air fryers don’t have prop 65 warning since it’s a California law, that says the consumer has the right to know whether the product contains substances that can cause cancer.
So, if you’re purchasing an air fryer outside California you may not come across a prop 65 warning on many.
However, having a prop 65 warning doesn’t guarantee your safety, it only means that you have to look out for the food that might produce acrylamide when cooked in an air fryer under high temperatures.
This doesn’t mean in the absence of prop 65 warning you can cook whatever you want, absolutely not. You’d want to avoid plant-based food and starchy vegetables because they can end up producing acrylamide.
Now, first, let’s get to the basics of how an air fryer works, and then I’ll explain to you the prop 65 California law for more clarity.
How Do Air Fryers Work?
In a nutshell, an air fryer is a countertop appliance that functions similarly to a mini convection oven. Instead of using a lot of oil or fat, it uses wind from an internal fan and heat to thoroughly cook your chicken wings and crisp up your French fries.
The fan and heat are both located above whatever is being cooked in the fryer, and the food is in a slotted basket. That super-heated air circulates every side of your steak or asparagus, cooking it thoroughly and quickly, as if by magic.
Even if your recipe doesn’t call for it, some fryers prefer that you pre-heat them—a step that takes far less time than a conventional oven. After that, you set the time and temperature for your food, then coat it in a small amount of oil or cooking spray and place it in the basket.
What Is Prop 65 Warning?
Prop 65 is a California law that requires all businesses to post warnings on their appliances about potentially harmful or carcinogenic chemicals. An air fryer contains no carcinogenic chemicals.
Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians of significant chemical exposures that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. These chemicals may be found in products purchased by California residents, in their homes or workplaces, or in the environment. Proposition 65, by requiring this information, allows Californians to make informed decisions about their exposure to these chemicals.
The bad news is that cooking plant-based foods at high temperatures can result in the formation of acrylamide, a toxic chemical that can cause birth defects and cancer.
Cooking plant-based foods like potato chips, French fries, breakfast cereals, bread, and crackers raises the risk of acrylamide formation. It is formed specifically when free amino acids in plant-based foods react with sugars like fructose and glucose.
As a result, the p65 warning on the air fryer simply informs the consumer of the possibility of this toxic chemical formation.
Along with this warning, some manufacturers provide tips on how to use the air fryer to reduce the likelihood of acrylamide formation. This warning, however, does not appear on all air fryers.
This is because, even if you use an air fryer to cook some plant-based foods at specific temperatures, you still risk acrylamide and other harmful chemicals forming.
As a result, the absence of the Prop 65 warning should not give you the green light to disregard the manufacturer’s cooking recommendations.
Why Do Air Fryers Have Prop 65 Warning?
Acrylamide is a potential carcinogen, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, more research is being conducted to determine how much acrylamide can cause cancer.
Meanwhile, the government has required all California-based businesses to label potentially hazardous or carcinogenic products.
Here’s more on Proposition 65 warning:
Acrylamide is a chemical that, among other things, can increase the risk of cancer, congenital disabilities, and nerve damage. This chemical can form when some plant-based foods are cooked at temperatures above 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although most foods can be cooked at temperatures lower than this, an air fryer can reach higher temperatures.
Keeping this in mind, air fryers are subject to the Prop 65 warning because they can produce carcinogenic chemicals when heated to high temperatures. As a result, it is prudent to adhere to temperature limits and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially when cooking plant-based foods.
Below is a table of some air fryers that have prop 65 warnings:
| Names | Price |
| Dash Tasti Crisp Non-Toxic Air Fryer | $59.95 |
| Big Boss Large Air Fryer | $112.40 |
| Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6 in 1 | $109.99 |
How Can I Reduce Acrylamide Formation In My Air Fryer?
Acrylamide is a compound that forms when starchy foods like potatoes are cooked at high temperatures or when coffee beans are roasted. Roasting, frying, and baking are examples of traditional cooking methods.
According to research, air frying foods can reduce the production of acrylamide compounds by 75 to 90 percent when compared to deep-fat frying. While this study did use a variety of “pre-soaking solutions,” such as citric acid and sodium chloride, the results revealed that the items in the air fryer did not require a special pre-treatment solution.
Sure, more research is needed in this area, but these preliminary findings are encouraging.
You can always start with soaking your starchy vegetables, keeping a tab on temperature, being aware of cooking times, and storing your potatoes in a dark place.
Do Air Fryers Cause Cancer?
No, not intentionally. Air fryers don’t cause cancer until they are not used according to the manufacturer’s guide or there is a fault in the machinery.
Through research, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that acrylamide is a carcinogenic chemical. Because this chemical can be produced when food is cooked at extremely high temperatures, the government has taken responsibility for informing the public about it.
Sensitizing consumers to potential carcinogens in their environment is one way to raise cancer awareness.
Given the popularity of air fryers, which can produce acrylamide at high temperatures, a p65 warning allows consumers to take the necessary precautions.
For example, they will ensure that plant-based foods are cooked at temperatures no above 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that, in addition to the Prop 5 warning, manufacturers should recommend the appropriate cooking temperature for plant-based foods.
Does Air Fryer Give Out Radiation?
No, air fryers don’t give out radiation. In fact, they work like a convection oven.
for more information and a better understanding you can read Is A Convection Microwave The Same As Air Fryer?
Are Air Fryer Fumes Cancerous?
Depends. There can be two types of fumes: white fumes and black fumes.
The white fumes are steam coming out of the air fryer and there’s nothing to worry about it. However, the black fume can be smoke coming out of the air fryer in case of voltage disruption or short-circuit. You can read more about the fumes of an air fryer here.
Why does your Air Fryer have a P65 warning?
Given the popularity of air fryers, which can assemble acrylamide at high temperatures, a p65 warning allows consumers to take the necessary precautions.
Every year, tens of millions of new cancer cases are diagnosed, with nearly half of those diagnosed dying from the disease. As a result, governments are constantly researching potential carcinogens and ways to reduce the occurrence of this disease through research centers.
This research concluded that acrylamide is a carcinogenic chemical after conducting research. Because this chemical can be produced when food is cooked at extremely high temperatures, the government has agreed to educate the public about it.
Sensitizing consumers to potential environmental carcinogens is one way to raise cancer cognition.
What Should I Do If I Notice A Proposition 65 Advisory?
You’ve probably noticed a Prop 65 warning on your Ninja air fryer. If you live in California, your air fryer is required to display this warning. It indicates that the seller or manufacturer followed the regulations.
Furthermore, a Prop 65 warning is only there to warn you that by using the appliance, you may be interacting with a potentially carcinogenic chemical. Given that air fryers have been around for a while, you can continue to use your machine as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you want to fry plant-based foods, keep the temperature of your air fryer below 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even if your air fryer does not have a Prop 65 warning, you should still exercise caution. This is due to the fact that the absence of this warning does not imply that your appliance is completely safe to use at all temperatures.
Summary
- Air fryers are considered safe and healthy but they have a prop 65 warning that indicates that they might have products that can yield potential harmful substances that can lead to cancer.
- No, all air fryers don’t have prop 65 warning since it’s a California law, that says the consumer has the right to know whether the product contains substances that can cause cancer.
- So, if you’re purchasing an air fryer outside California you may not come across a prop 65 warning on many.
- However, having a prop 65 warning doesn’t guarantee your safety, it only means that you have to look out for the food that might produce acrylamide when cooked in an air fryer under high temperatures. This doesn’t mean in the absence of prop 65 warning you can cook whatever you want, absolutely not.
- Prop 65 is a California law that requires all businesses to post warnings on their appliances about potentially harmful or carcinogenic chemicals. An air fryer contains no carcinogenic chemicals. Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians of significant chemical exposures that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
- The bad news is that cooking plant-based foods at high temperatures can result in the formation of acrylamide, a toxic chemical that can cause birth defects and cancer. Keeping this in mind, air fryers are subject to the Prop 65 warning because they can produce carcinogenic chemicals when heated to high temperatures.
- As a result, it is prudent to adhere to temperature limits and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially when cooking plant-based foods. Through research, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that acrylamide is a carcinogenic chemical.
Given the popularity of air fryers, which can produce acrylamide at high temperatures, a p65 warning allows consumers to take the necessary precautions. This means that, in addition to the Prop 5 warning, manufacturers should recommend the appropriate cooking temperature for plant-based foods.
With this, I hope all your queries have been answered and you can make a good decision.