What ICMR's 2024 Dietary Guidelines Say About Your Kitchen Cookware

In 2024, ICMR released new Dietary Guidelines for Indians. The ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) in Hyderabad wrote them. A few short sections talk about cookware. The internet went crazy.

Posts online said things like "ICMR bans Teflon pans!" That is not true. I read the actual ICMR-NIN document. Here is what it really says, with the guideline number and page for each point.

What ICMR Actually Said About Cookware

In its own words, ICMR-NIN says: "Non-stick pans coated with Teflon are a risk if they are heated to temperatures greater than 170°C." (Guideline 12, page 79, Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024).

Here are the exact points from ICMR 2024, with page numbers:

1. Non-stick cookware: Teflon (PTFE) pans are "a risk" above 170 degrees C. This can happen if an empty pan is left on a burner for a long time. The coating can then give off irritating or poisonous fumes. Follow the use and cleaning steps, and throw the pan away when the coating is worn-out or damaged. (Guideline 12, page 79; Guideline 13, page 86)
2. Preferred materials: Earthen pots are called "the safest cookware". The list of points to remember says: "Prefer earthen cookware over others." Stainless steel is "generally considered safe for cooking purposes if used properly". (Guideline 13, pages 86 and 88)
3. Aluminum and iron: Small amounts that get into food "need not be a cause of concern". But do not store acidic foods like pickles, chutneys and sambar in aluminium or iron vessels for a long time. (Guideline 12, page 79)
4. Copper and brass: The same storage warning applies to untinned (unlined) brass and copper vessels. (Guideline 12, page 79; Guideline 13, page 86)
5. Clay: Earthen pots need very little oil and keep the food's nutrition intact, says ICMR-NIN. (Guideline 13, page 86)
6. Granite stone: It is regarded as safe unless it has a Teflon-type coating. Use it at medium-high heat at most. (Guideline 13, page 87)
7. Microwave: Use glass or microwave-safe ceramic dishes, not plastic. (Guideline 13, page 84)

That is it. No ban. No cancer warning for non-stick. Just practical advice.

The 170 Degree C Rule: What It Means for You

170 degrees C sounds low. But most cooking with water stays well below it. This table is our rough guide, not ICMR data.

Most everyday cooking with water stays inside ICMR's limit for non-stick. The risky jobs are the dry, high-heat ones: tadka, frying and roasting. Use steel or iron for those. And never leave an empty non-stick pan on the flame.

ICMR Cookware Safety by Material: What ICMR Says vs Our Reading

The middle column is ICMR-NIN's text, shortened. The last two columns are our own kitchen advice, not ICMR's.

Common Myths About the ICMR Cookware Guidelines

Here are common claims next to what ICMR actually said. The claims are paraphrased, not quotes from any one news outlet:

Scary posts get clicks. ICMR wrote practical advice. Read the real guidelines, not the headlines.

A Practical Cookware Guide Based on ICMR

Here is what I recommend, based on ICMR's guidelines:

1. Get a stainless steel kadai. For boiling, tadka, frying, and all-purpose cooking. ICMR says steel does not react with acidic foods.
2. Get a cast iron tawa. For dosa, roti, and dry roasting spices. It is heavy, so pick a size you can lift.
3. Keep your non-stick pan. For eggs, omelettes, rice, Maggi, and gravy. Use low-medium flame, never heat it empty, and replace it when the coating wears out.
4. Add an earthen (clay) pot. For slow-cooked dal and rice. ICMR-NIN says to prefer earthen cookware over others.

This 3-4 pan setup covers most everyday Indian cooking, and each pan is used the way ICMR-NIN advises.

BIS Quality Standards for Cookware in India

ICMR talks about what to use. BIS talks about quality. Both matter.

• ISI mark: Look for this on stainless steel and aluminium utensils. It means the product is certified to the Indian Standard.
• PFOA-free label: We suggest checking every non-stick label for the coating type (such as PTFE) and "PFOA-free". If the maker gives no coating details, ask before you buy.
• BIS QCO (Quality Control Order): The BIS order for cookware lists stainless steel utensils, aluminium utensils, steel sinks and food cans. We did not find non-stick coatings in that list on 23 October 2026.

Our Honest Take as a Cookware Brand

I run InstaCuppa. We sell both non-stick and stainless steel multicook kettles. Both 1000 ml kettles are sold out on 23 October 2026 (Rs 1,599 for steel, Rs 1,699 for non-stick). Our 1.2 litre kettle cum cooker is in stock in Regular (Rs 1,499) and Non-Stick (Rs 1,699) versions.

Here is my honest take on ICMR's guidelines:

• They are practical and balanced. Not extreme.
• They match what we already know about non-stick safety.
• The 170 degrees C point is easy to remember: never heat a non-stick pan empty.
• Most people already use non-stick for low-heat tasks. ICMR just confirmed that approach.

If the coating on your non-stick kettle wears out, ICMR's advice is to stop using it. We do not list a spare non-stick bowl for the multicook kettle on our store (checked 23 October 2026). Contact our support team at +91 7330966937 or support@instacuppastore.com and we will tell you your options. Manufacturing defects are covered by the 1-year warranty.