Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur who has become synonymous with anti-aging efforts, is raising alarms about the non-stick cookware sitting in your kitchen cabinets. His warning comes on the heels of research linking these common household items to serious health consequences, particularly for young people.
“If you have a non-stick cookware. Get rid of it,” Johnson declared on social media, pointing to a new study that reveals alarming connections between PFAS chemicals and fatty liver disease in adolescents.
The research, which Johnson has been following closely as part of his comprehensive health monitoring regimen, shows that PFOA, a “forever chemical” commonly used in non-stick cookware, increases the risk of fatty liver disease in adolescents by 169% with every doubling of exposure. For teenagers carrying certain genetic variants, the risk becomes even more severe.
If you have a non-stick cookware. Get rid of it.
New study: a 169% increase in the risk of fatty liver disease in adolescents is linked to PFOA, a forever chemical used in non-stick cookware, with every doubling of exposure.
I’ve been meticulously measuring these toxin levels… pic.twitter.com/cHlAJkAny8
— Bryan Johnson (@bryan_johnson) January 14, 2026
“I’ve been meticulously measuring these toxin levels in myself and drinking water,” Johnson explained, highlighting the personal approach he takes to avoiding environmental hazards.
The study’s findings reveal that adolescence represents a particularly vulnerable window. Each year increase in age during the teenage years adds a 45% increased likelihood of fatty liver disease for every doubling of PFOA plasma concentration. For adolescents with the high-risk PNPLA3 GG genetic variant, exposure to another PFAS chemical called PFHxS, found in water-repellent clothing and electronics, was associated with a staggering 552% increase in fatty liver disease likelihood.
These synthetic chemicals have earned their nickname as “forever chemicals” for good reason. PFOA remains in the human body for 1.5 to 5 years and persists in environmental water for an estimated 92 years. This persistence means that exposure accumulates over time, with potential consequences that may only become apparent years or decades later.
The concern extends beyond individual health choices into the political arena. Popular podcast host Joe Rogan recently criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing legislation that would have prohibited the sale of PFAS-containing cookware in the state.
“Newsom vetoed a California bill banning cookware with PFAS Forever Chemicals,” Rogan stated during a recent podcast episode with comedian Andrew Schulz. “The bill stops poison from going into human bodies. You f**king profit monster.”
The governor’s veto message cited concerns about causing “sudden product shift” that would impact cookware availability. This is an explanation that failed to satisfy critics who see the decision as prioritizing industry interests over public health.
Schulz noted during the conversation that manufacturers already produce PFAS-free versions of their products for other markets. “They’re following them already in Canada,” he pointed out, suggesting that compliance wouldn’t require the development of entirely new products.
The podcast discussion also addressed how these chemicals enter the body through food. When non-stick surfaces become scratched by metal utensils, PFAS particles can more easily transfer into meals being prepared.
For families with children, the implications are particularly pressing. The hormonal changes and rapid growth that characterize puberty make this developmental phase especially susceptible to the endocrine and metabolic disruption caused by PFAS exposure. The chemicals interfere with insulin function and liver fat metabolism at a time when these systems are still developing.
While the research showed no basic association between PFAS and liver disease risk in young adults, specific circumstances changed this picture. Young adults who smoke showed increased vulnerability to certain PFAS chemicals, turning compounds like PFDA, PFHpS, and PFNA into significant risk factors for metabolic liver disease.
The study, which focused on a Hispanic adolescent population, provides actionable insights despite some limitations. Researchers acknowledge that more work is needed to confirm whether these findings apply across different ethnic groups, and that the cross-sectional nature of the study means it can only show associations rather than prove direct causation.
Environmental and consumer advocacy groups have expressed disappointment with political decisions like Newsom’s veto, promising to continue pursuing restrictions on these chemicals in consumer products.
For Johnson, the solution is straightforward: eliminate PFAS exposure wherever possible, starting with the most obvious source in most homes.
As manufacturers already produce PFAS-free alternatives for some markets, the question facing consumers and policymakers alike is whether the benefits of non-stick convenience justify the potential health consequences, especially for the most vulnerable members of society.
