Mmmm ... Diacetyl

Why have butter when you can have artificial buttery goodness thanks to processed diacetyl?   Well, maybe because there is growing evidence that diacetyl can kill you - even if you aren't an unlucky worker suffering from "popcorn lung."  You could just be a really big fan of ABG fresh from the microwave.  From the NYT:

A furniture salesman, the man was becoming increasingly short of breath. He had never smoked and was overweight. His illness had been diagnosed as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by chronic exposure to bacteria, mold or dust. Farmers and bird enthusiasts are frequent sufferers.

But nothing in the Colorado man’s history suggested that he was breathing in excessive amounts of mold or bird droppings, Dr. Rose said. She has consulted to flavorings manufacturers for years about “popcorn workers’ lung,” and said that something about the man’s tests appeared similar to those of the workers.

“I said to him, ‘This is a very weird question, but bear with me. But are you around a lot of popcorn?’ ” Dr. Rose asked. “His jaw dropped and he said, ‘How could you possibly know that about me? I am Mr. Popcorn. I love popcorn.’ ”

The man told Dr. Rose that he had eaten microwave popcorn at least twice a day for more than 10 years.

“When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much,” Dr. Rose said. “That’s heated diacetyl, which we know from the workers’ studies is the highest risk.”

The man is improving now that he's off the junk.   He was lucky that he got to a doctor who has consulted to flavorings manufacturers for years or else who knows if the diagnosis could have been made.   After all, last I heard, an investigation of diacetyl's safety was being embargoed until "the industry" had a chance to review it. 

The ConAgra spokesman had this to say:

“We’re incredibly interested in learning more about this case. However, we are confident that our product is safe for consumers’ normal everyday use in the home,” said Stephanie Childs, a spokeswoman for ConAgra Foods, the nation’s largest maker of microwave popcorn.

Just not twice a day and for the love of God, don't inhale.

Ms. Childs said ConAgra planned to remove diacetyl from its microwave popcorn products “in the near future.”

That's good news for all the workers who are suffering and are about to come down with Popcorn Lung.  I'm sure they're happy to keep waiting for the next study to be done while they're processing the stuff, wearing their ineffective respirators and knowing what we'll all know pretty soon: diacetyl will kill you.

Comments

[Cathy]

I work with Weaver Popcorn, and want to make sure that you know that Weaver has ALREADY removed the diacetyl from the flavoring in its microwave popcorn brands, Pop Weaver, sold at mass market retailers, discount stores and select grocery stores nationwide; and Trail's End, sold through Boy Scout councils.
Consumers who are concerned about this issue have an option that is available now.