Toxic Popcorn

Finding the humor in all this makes the world a little less scary.
via Miniature Brainwave

What Else Is In My Popcorn?

I have received a ton of questions concerning diacetyl in microwave popcorn today. This prompted me to look at the label of the Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter flavor package I have on my desk. Besides hiding who knows what under the listing of 'Natural and Artificial flavors' on the label, there is more bad news. First off, what the heck does this mean, CONTAINS:MILK, but on the ingredients listing no where does it say milk? Second, they add color to it, why, I remember popping corn with the hot air machine and the color was just fine. What is this color? Is it quinolone yellow or sunset yellow, the two colors from the post below which cause all sorts of problems? Third, and last, but not least, is the presence of TBHQ an additive to preserve freshness, TBHQ has it own problems, it causes renal and bladder cancer, precursors to stomach tumors and damage to DNA.

From Wikipedia

In high doses, it has some negative health effects on lab animals, such as precursors to stomach tumors and damage to DNA.[1] A number of studies have shown that prolonged exposure to TBHQ may induce carcinogenity.[

From Diet Studies

" 3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and tert-butyl-hydroquinone (TBHQ) are antioxidants known to promote renal and bladder carcinogenesis [cancer] in the rat, although the mechanisms of these effects are unclear....Because some chemicals may induce carcinogenesis by a mechanism involving cytotoxicity followed by sustained regenerative hyperplasia, our results suggest that the toxicity of GSH conjugates of TBHQ to kidney and bladder may contribute to the promoting effect of 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and TBHQ in these tissues. "

I will never eat this crap again, I wonder if I can return the unused popcorn I have.

Which Brands Of Popcorn Do Not Contain Diacetyl

This is the hot question of the moment. It is probably best to assume that all brands currently on the shelf contain diacetyl. Due to the shady food labelling practices espoused by the FDA, we don't really know. The flavor is covered under the 'natural and artificial flavors' heading on the label. Make your own microwave popcorn with the instructions found here or go get yourself a good old-fashioned air popper.

Death By Popcorn

The deaths linked to the use of diacetyl in microwave popcorn were originally all linked to factory workers. 'Popcorn lung' is what they called the deadly disorder acquired by the factory workers. All that seems to have changed today, as doctors diagnose a patient who was exposed to microwave popcorn fumes several times a day with the affliction.

Consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to federal regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital.

A pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center has written to federal agencies to say doctors there believe they have the first case of a consumer who developed lung disease from the fumes of microwaving popcorn several times a day for years.

"We cannot be sure that this patient's exposure to butter flavored microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease," cautioned Dr. Cecile Rose. "However, we have no other plausible explanation."

Additionally:

...the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association issued a statement Tuesday recommending that its members reduce "to the extent possible" the amount of diacetyl in butter flavorings they make.

How about NO diacetyl flavor industry?

The full article over at Yahoo Health

Popcorn Update

Instructables has a cool article on how to make your own microwave popcorn that is diacetyl free. All you need is a paper bag, some popcorn kernels and a little butter, enjoy!

Butter Flavored Death

Microwave popcorn has always been a sort of 'miracle product' to me. Who doesn't love that in 2 minutes you go from a flat bag to piping hot 'movie theater' flavored goodness. The latest findings from the EPA suggest that the 'movie theater' flavor is a killer. The buttery flavor is due to the addition of a chemical called diacetyl and it appears to be responsible for some serious health problems in the workers who manufacture one of America's favorite treats. This has led to speculation that the consumer may be exposed to some environmenal hazards when the diacetyl heats up and fills the home with that delicious smell. Pop Weaver, a producer of such treats, has removed the chemical from their products altogether as a result of the EPA's findings. The sad news is most other brands still contain it.

Pop Weaver, one of the largest producers of microwave popcorn, is removing a controversial chemical flavoring agent from its products.

The chemical -- diacetyl -- adds buttery taste. Government worker safety investigators have linked exposure to the synthetic butter to the sometimes fatal destruction of the lungs of hundreds of workers in food production and flavoring factories.

And while Pop Weaver has dropped diacetyl from its product, it remains in widespread use in thousands of other consumer products, including the microwave popcorn brands Orville Redenbacher and Act II.

Choose wisely dear friends.
Read all about it at Seattlepi.com