Popcorn lung from diacetyl
That smell of microwave popcorn can make you ill.
I’ve always had an aversion to the smell of microwave popcorn and its sickly coconut-like smell. Maybe my nose was telling me something…
This so called “buttery aroma” aka fake butter flavoring is made with a synthetic flavoring called diacetyl. Several workers in plants where microwave popcorn and other snack foods are made have developed as rare lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, which has now being called “popcorn lung.” Sounds like a joke but it’s no joke. There is concern because high levels of diacetyl have been measured in a home while making microwave popcorn. There is more news to follow on this. Meanwhile if you must have popcorn make the real stuff, if you’ve forgotten how to make popcorn on the stove and must use the microwave, don’t get the butter flavor. I’ll follow up with more news as it develops.
Leave a Reply