Popcorn Maker To Drop Flavoring Chemical

ConAgra Says It Will Replace Popcorn Chemical Linked To Lung Ailment

(AP)  The nation's largest microwave popcorn maker, ConAgra Foods Inc., said Wednesday it will change the recipe for its Orville Redenbacher and Act II brands over the next year to remove a flavoring chemical linked to a lung ailment in popcorn plant workers.

The announcement comes a day after a doctor at a leading lung research hospital said in a warning letter to federal regulators that consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn.

ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs said the company decided in the past few months to remove the butter flavoring diacetyl from its popcorn because of the risk the chemical presents to workers who handle large quantities.

The chemical diacetyl has been linked to cases of bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare life-threatening disease often called popcorn lung.

ConAgra's announcement comes a week after another popcorn manufacturer, Weaver Popcorn Co. of Indianapolis, said it would replace the butter flavoring ingredient because of consumer concern.

ConAgra doesn't know how soon it will be able to replace diacetyl with a different butter flavoring, Childs said, but the change will be made sometime over the next year.

"We've made that decision based on the knowledge for the potential risk to our employees," Childs said.

The Omaha-based company has already been making changes at its popcorn plants over the past few years to reduce employee exposure to diacetyl, she said.

But the company doesn't believe diacetyl in popcorn represents a safety risk to consumers, Childs said.

"We're fully confident that microwave popcorn is safe for consumers in the home," she said.

It was reported Tuesday that a pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center had 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.

Dr. Cecile Rose sent the letter to federal health officials in July.

The first government study to look at what fumes are produced by microwaving popcorn at home is due to be published as soon as this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.

The two-year study by EPA researchers was completed in late 2005 and has been under wraps since then, prompting critics to charge that the agency was protecting industry interests. But an EPA spokeswoman said the delay was due to a string of requirements including scientific review, submitting the report to industry and the time it took to get into a scientific journal.

EPA spokeswoman Suzanne Ackerman said the paper was recently accepted for publication as early as this month in a major scientific journal that she would not name.

The EPA denied a Freedom of Information request last fall from The Associated Press for the report, arguing it was a draft still under review. The agency has not yet answered an AP appeal of that rejection.

Ackerman confirmed that the study had been submitted to popcorn manufacturers ahead of its release. She said that was done to let companies make sure there were no competitive secrets in the report. EPA scientists signed nondisclosure agreements with industry in return for lists of ingredients the makers use in the popcorn and the packaging.

The report, titled "Emissions from Cooking Microwave Popcorn," is not a study of the health effects of diacetyl or any other fumes on consumers. Instead, it looks at exactly what gases including diacetyl are produced in what amount when consumers make microwave popcorn at home.

The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association said that Rose's finding does not suggest a risk from eating microwave popcorn. The concern instead focuses on workers inhaling it in manufacturing settings, either in making the flavoring or adding it to food products ranging from popcorn to pound cakes.

The Washington, D.C.-based association has said several flavor manufacturers are either researching alternatives to diacetyl or are already marketing butter flavors free of the chemical.

The trade group said the FDA has approved the use of diacetyl as a flavor ingredient, and diacetyl occurs naturally in foods such as butter, cheese and fruits.

[dwillerton]

I agree with this report. I have said for years that consuming the chemicals in microwave popcorn would harm people. I personally find the smell distasteful and unaccepatble in the work place, it should be banned.

[erasmus6]

One more thing in the never-ending list of c-r-a-p we eat that is toxic, cancer causing, etc.

What has this world come to?

[maedean]

Oh great one nutty Doctor comes up with this stupid idea about popcorn and now every nut in the world is going to belive it.. Get a life people.

[burneb]

And there have already been enough cases for this to be "commonly called" popcorn lung?
Of course anyone who consumes "several bags" of popcorn daily might have breathing problems for other reasons, but I''d still prefer to see real butter or real margarine instead of whatever goat whiz you find on most "butter-flavored" popcorn.

[newsthought1]

The popcorn factory workers are not making this up. There is a long track record in American society of accepting the truth about hazardous consumer products gradually, and with much resistance from industries that stand to lose money. For example, it took years for tobacco to be treated as the killer that it is. Some people b*tch and moan and scoff when science reveals new hazards. They do so at their own risk, and that''s natural selection in action. Just hope that the recklessness of the stupid doesn''t hurt innocent bystanders.

[middleman8]

Next they should check out the old adage-

"Dry as a popcorn f-a-r-t".

[grammawhamma]

In my opinion it is not the fumes from the microwave popcorn causing the lung damage but it is from breathing in the steam when you open the bag. It is similiar to breathing in non stick cooking spray. Breathing in non stick cooking spray will damage your lungs!!

[drinuk]

This story highlights the serious situation regarding our food consumption, whether it be Fast, Junk or Home Cooked. We simply do not know what it contains, even reading labels tells us very little.

Manufacturers will stop at nothing to enhance flavour and make the extra buck and are ably supported and encouraged by the chemical companies. We as consumers are totally let down by our regulatory agencies, who appear more often than ever to be in the pockets of people like Monsanto. GM foods abound, are dangerous and yet we are fed them in abundance irrespective of serious concerns worldwide.

The accompanying story that 8.7% of our children are now suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder can without a doubt be blamed on ASPARTAME, which is a disgrace. The authorities have been told but will not take action regarding the two thousand products containing this poison on our supermarket shelves, they, in helping their chemical friends would prefer our children to become sub normal.
Why when the UK and Europe are banning this junk do WE persist in defending it? the answer is Money and Corruption.

[btree50]

Dont worry, next week someone else will come out with another study saying its all good for you. Look back at all the other "studies" done. It always happens. Coffee, chocolate, alcohol, and the list goes on.

[samsel3]

Personal message to CBS news, Dr. Cecile Rose and all interested. The effects of Diacetyl have been known since 1969. Roots of exposure dermal, ingestion & inhalation cause serious harm. Inhalation causes airway disease known as Bronchiolitis Obliterans. High resolution computer tomography reveals a distinct mosaic attenuation pattern. Depending a persons particular genetic makeup their ability resist damage will vary as well as exposue. BO is irreversable. Spirometry shows a mixed obstructive/restrictive defect. Liver, kidneys & stomach lesions are also seen from exposure. More info next e-mail!

[samsel3]

Continued to CBS and Dr. Rose. Symptoms from exposure to Diacetyl include a nonproductive cough and shortness of breath within 2 to 8 weeks from exposure. Pulmonary vascular attenuation, bronchial wall thickening including dilation and air trapping occur. In 1969 a peer reviewed study also showed anemia, increased leukocyte count, necrotic stomach lesions and effects on liver and kidneys.......continued next e-mail

[samsel3]

Continuation to CBS news, DR. Rose and all interested. Diacetyl, also known as 2,3-Butadione is also found in margerine, some enhanced butters, candy, baked goods , snack treats including bagged popcorn & potaoe chips. Toxicity from Diacetyl occurs dermally(skin contact) orally eating a product containing it & through inhalation of fumes from plant processing or cooking at home. Diacetyl in microwave popcorn is not the only probem with that product....see next email

[samsel3]

Continued comments to CBS news and Dr. Rose. Other problems associated with microwave popcorn include the bag thaat it comes in. Bags are coated with PFOA (Perflouro octonoic acetate) These flouro polymers migrate onto the popcorn and are ingested. During microwaving PFOA''s are subject to temperatures in excess of 200 degrees centigrade. Degredation of the plastic coating is a problem. Products of degredation may include carbonyl flouride. Contact with moisture then produces hydroflouric acid. The lungs and tissue are eaten and permanetly damaged......I am retired hazardous chemical consultant from Arthur D. Little, Cambridge MA...Comments welcome

[juwboy]

samse13 aka lying SOB posing as a retired hazardous chemical consultant from Arthur D Little:

No qualified chemist would spell perfluorooctanoic, fluoride, degradation or hydrofluoric incorrectly as you have done.

Furthermore, diacetyl is not a "chemical", it''s a natural flavoring, which would make it healthy in the opinion of the other scientifically illiterate morons who frequent these health story comment threads..

[drinuk]

correct me juwboy, as a bi product of a chemical process is it not a chemical, natural or not ?

You are quite belligerent are you not, what is your problem ?

[juwboy]

drinuk:

Diacetyl occurs in nature. It is produced in bulk for use as a food additive by the fermentation of natural material.

[shoujoboy-2009]

For every study that says something is good for you, another says it gives you cancer. Next study is going to show that if you snort popcorn butter it can give you a higher IQ. I figure why worry about it and just enjoy food. Based on all the studies, I should have pretty much all possible cancers by now and probably a brain hemorage.

[samsel3]

A few years back some of the manufacturers of Diacetyl were Aldrich chemical, Penta manufacturing, and International Chemical Group....Concerning my time at Arthur D. Little, Acorn Park Cambridge MA. I was in product development and the engineering division and served as a private consultant to the company.

[juwboy]

samse13:

FLUORIDE is correct for both the American and English spellings.

FLOURIDE is a common mis-spelling in both the US and the UK.

[samsel3]

JUboy yes Fluoride and floride are correct spellings.. More importantly read the NIOSH study from 2002, and if you have a friend at BASF look at their study. There are also dozens of peer reviewed studies that will give you second thoughts about Diacetyl 2,3-Butanedione..

[bxjohnson]

Wow, what about chicken licking?

[kaviz]

Thats it! I say we start a movement to ban microwave popcorn from all work places so I wont get ill from second hand buttery flavoring.

[susieq_13]

That is too funny Kaviz...
I never have liked buttery flavored microwave popcorn. It tastes funny to me. You can tell it''s not real butter. I do like Kettle Corn. I hope they don''t change that recipe.

[boldwin223]

Flavoring chemicals such as diacetyl and MSG should be banned from all food products.

[someone231]

mmmm. I have a taste for popcorn now!

[someone231]

aww!!! their pass their best buy date, by like 18 months

[ecuadoriana]

Butter flavoured chemicals!

I never understood why food has to be covered with chemicals in the first place. People would rather eat chemicals than actual food. Why?? To lose weight? Well, obviously that isn''t working- look at the size of everyone (of course, ordering super barrel sized tubs of popcorn at the movie theatre sort of defeats the low cal concept)! Maybe people should consider eating real food, but less of it? With an extra helping of little self control perhaps? Right, like that''ll ever happen.

Oh, but heaven forbid if the chinese put lead in their toy manufacturing! Bad: Chinese people (Gotta keep up that supply of hated ethic groups)! Good: Artificially flavoured food!

Talk about hypocrisy!

I''ve worked in places where every afternoon the employees microwaved that horrible smelling chemical popcorn. The stench would make me gag. Then they all walked around stuffing it in their faces, spilling it on the floor, & getting their greasy chemical butter finger prints all over everything. Gross & double gross. Triple gross when they lick their fingers off before picking up the phone & pushing buttons on the copier!

Weird phenomenon that people blindly convince themselves that something tastes good & is healthy for them when all evidence & common sense points to the obvious fact that most of what people eat is 100% cr@p.

"You are what you eat" certainly is true.

[Krazcarl]

Glad I was lasy and skimed my corn on a butter stick then reached and stuck on a few more how mom taught me. Agree with susie_Q the artificail butter taste artificial.

[missingamerica]

"The announcement comes a day after a doctor at a leading lung research hospital said in a warning letter to federal regulators that consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn."

Ah, yes, the Republican touch..."too many regulations, too many laws, the market will self-enforce good manufacturing practices".

How fortunate for those otherwise disposable factory workers that the all important CONSUMERS were about to learn they were being endangered, too.

You see, it doesn''t really have a d@amned thing to do with when and if even a CONSUMER here or there dies; it only begins to matter if it looks like enough CONSUMERS will be scared off of a product to negatively impact its profit margin.

[l8c6]

Yes, after a few people have gotten sick and perhaps have already died, the condition apparently around long enough to acquire the name "popcorn lung" has prompted the wonderful free market to adjust.

[brianbwb-2009]

Yes, after a few people have gotten sick and perhaps have already died, the condition apparently around long enough to acquire the name "popcorn lung" has prompted the wonderful free market to adjust.
Posted by l8c6

It wasn''t the condition, or even the lawsuits (the cost was below the threshold for "acceptable liability"), it was the publicity...

[juwboy]

samse13:

I did not claim that diacetyl is harmless anywhere in my comments.

I was trying to make the point that "chemical", with reference to diacetyl, is downright misleading.

As you can clearly see from the last sentence of the report, diacetyl occurs in Nature and is responsible for the NATURAL taste of butter.

What happens to it when the fumes are breathed?
It is metabolised to the NATURAL substance, acetic acid, the major, non-aqueous component of vinegar, a NATURAL food. Furthermore, acetic acid occurs NATURALLY in every cell in the human body and plays a pivotal role in the body''s biochemistry.

So, breathing in hot fumes of diacetyl is equivalent to breathing the fumes from hot vinegar -- irritating but harmless in small quantities, possibly harmful in larger amounts.

Banning the use of diacetyl is equivalent to banning vinegar. If common sense is applied to the handling and use of vinegar, it''s harmless. If you breathe the hot fumes of vinegar, it could hurt you, but no-one''s going to suggest that vinegar should be removed from supermarket shelves, are they?

[samsel3]

to the folks at cbs: Thanks for updating this story and including the real name for this disease Bronchiolitis Obliterans. As the name implies inhalation of Diacetyl 2,3-Butadione destroys lung tissue, especially smoothe muscle tissue and increases the thickness of the bronchial walls making it difficult for the lung to function & to expell air. Eating foods containing this chemical will also cause damage though not as quickly. From the throat to the stomach necrotic lesions have been found. Damage to the liver, kidneys, adrenal& pituitary glands also occur.

[samsel3]

To Juboy Hydrochloric Acid is the primary stomach acid for hydrolysis of foods.

[toldyouso21]

A MUST read for anyone concerned about this issue: "Fast Food Nation" this book which not only covers fast food, also covers the very secretive issue of food chemicals. Almost every pre-prepared food we eat and many supposedly fresh ones(such as tv dinners, frozen foods, meats and even fresh fruits and veggies) has been chemically enhanced.

Everyone thinks because chemicals have been approved by the FDA--that they must be safe. But the real fact is, that many chemicals approved by the FDA are neither adequately monitored or tested. The stringency that supposedly is used for pharmaceuticals is NOT the same division or stringency used for food or even for vitamins.

For instance, though vitamins and neutraceuticals degrade no expiration date is required on those products. The colorings, perservatives and chemicals we eat (and yes, even a lot of so called health food we eat) are man made. The coloring and much of the flavoring on french fries, the fake red of fresh meat, etc are chemicals and frankly, no one knows the long term effects. Data is empirical--which means it is gathered from what happens to a lot of real people as we go along.

see next post

[toldyouso21]

Because of this--we NOW know DDT can cause deformities (mutagen), Thimerasol causes cancer, Saccharine causes cancer, Aspartame is now linked to cancer, that sugar alcohols are not harmless either. Even with the so called tested drugs--all who take them are the real testing guinea pigs. So we have found out that many antibiotics can cause a systemic form of skin disease if taken and exposed to the sun, that Acetomeniphen if taken too much--will damage the liver (which can be deadly), we have found out that there is accumulative lead and mercury in a lot of so called healthy fish (like salmon and Mackerel) and that too much iron or vitamin D will kill us- that some antidepressants drive people to destruction and violence-people fail to realize that it was not rigorous testing was never discovered by the companies or the FDA--but by the real results over time to people. Enough people have to fall ill, or die and the Drs and families have to complain, then the hospitals and Drs call the FDA, then they look into it. next post

[toldyouso21]

The FDA does not like to do this due to the potential backlash if something about a food or drug points to them failing to have it tested properly. So far, they have been able to deflect and point all blame back on a company or even just let it be a public problem, but the fact is the FDA and the USDA are in bed with industry and have been almost since their inception. All monitoring groups do what the wh says to do or look the other way if told to do so--this means, that when a Pres. is in power beholden to or enamoured with industry--no onw is watching the foxes and the hen house. and the ******* hits the fan, due to University studies or a lot of pets or people dying. What we don''t think about, is that it took the harm or deaths of a lot of people consuming products affected by these and other chemicals to finally get this information. Neither the FDA, USDA or any other gov. agency ever regulated or tested enough to know the harm of most food additives--we find out over time when people die. So who of us will be unwitting volunteers to this guinea pig process? The creed is greed. It out trumps anyone person or any disease or bad results. If people knew how much the FDA was NOT looking out for them, there would be a revolt.

[toldyouso21]

Case in point: I bought some vitamins from a health food store and noted the product had an expiration date of 20 years. There are no products that can remain stable for such a length of time. I phoned the FDA and they stated that probably the date was made up, in also noting that some of the products in the store were expired, the FDA replied that I should contact the company who made the products as they had no jurisdiction and did not monitor neutraceuticals, unless specific chemicals were used. IN other words, no reaction, no investigation.....just like the exposed ceilings in the airport in Orlando,FL which are literally covered with huge amounts of dust and insulation...no EPA there...and travelers and workers are spending hours there while the all the pipes and crud rain down on them, and people wheeze and tear up--and a public speaker voice, thanks everyone for enduring the exposure in the name of them improving the airport.....right, wait for those law suits years later when the workers and others realize who or possibly what exposed them to chemicals and particulate that could cause lung cancer.

[toldyouso21]

First of all--there is no such thing as naturally flavoring or "natural product" when referring to any product commercially produced which must be manipulated, preserved or enhanced in order to prolong the life of the product or enhance the coloring or taste. Carbon is a natural product, so is mercury, lead, etc. But the fact is, HOW any chemical is manipulated (ie., with heat, pressure, gene/DNA manipulation) what chemicals are added and individual biochemistry and physiology will determine the effect on people.


This being said, the idea that diacetyl is the same as vinegar is the same type of idocy as presuming Carbon and Oxygen is the same as carbon monoxide. Both Carbon and Oxygen are need for life--but in the chemical composition of CO--it means death. Derivatives of products are not the same as originals. ANY manipulation of a chemical--no matter how originally natural will NOT have the same effect on the biochem. as the original product. Every single change be it thermal, preservatives/stabilizers, environmental, etc will change and effect how the body reacts to the new product. As for those who think this is harmless or any thing else is harmless--maybe for you it is--on the other hand--maybe it isn''t, just because you aren''t dead yet--does not mean you are not well on your way and helped immensely by the fake stuff you eat, breathe and drink.

[toldyouso21]

Furthermore, acetic acid occurs NATURALLY in every cell in the human body and plays a pivotal role in the body''''s biochemistry. Posted by juwboy at 05:45 AM : Sep 06, 2007

Sorry. Your deducement about how something is ingested is dead wrong. Acetic acid may be present in the human body in small amounts--but Diacetyl 2,3-Butadione is not present naturally and is never naturally present in lung tissue.

There are many chemicals which are relatively harmless if swallowed but deadly if breathed. Many fibers that cause lung disease are actually inert, however once disseminated in the lung tissue, the cells within the lung react differently to the inert item, than the stomach would. In the stomach, many items would pass undigested, back out of the body but in the lungs or blood stream, the same chemical molecules could wreak havoc. Often, the lung tissue reacts by swelling (which makes it difficult to breath) or trying to encapsulate the foreign substance. Over time, the lung walls could thicken or even cause the body to try to fight the chemical invader--this can lead to more fluid build up as well as affect the process of cell mutations.

[toldyouso21]

juwboy:

The logic you appear to have that since a product is natural or occurs in the body, (ie., that it must be harmless) is disingenuous and indicates that your background is definitely NOT Science. Ketones are natural in fact the heart and brain prefer ketones as fuel--too much or produced from the wrong biochemical process will kill you.

Think about this: an injected parenteral medicine that misses a vein, is not readily absorbed by muscle tissue--at best a hematoma results from muscle being exposed to a drug--at worse (as in the case of neoplastics) exposure would result in necrosis or death of the muscle tissue. The same is true of lungs and blood. a bubble of Oxygen in the lungs is just fine--but that same bubble in a vein would mean death.

Mode of transmission, how a chemical is industrially manipulated, what other chemicals it is combined with, and personal physiology determine outcome. Natural does not mean good--it just means it occurs in nature--most of our most deadly poisons--occur naturally--many can be injested in minute quantities --so what?

As for typos--funny, how you are pedantic about spelling yet cavalier about the effect of chemicals on your health. Talk about having one''s priorities screwed up.

[jester188]

really .. it was bad for you...

i thought everything that came from a microwave was okay to eat...

who would have thunk it...

[samsel3]

It"s not just the popcorn butter flavoring you need to be aware of....The plastic coating inside the bag and other microwavable fast food containers are a problem. The grease repelent coatings are PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acetate. When microwaved, thermal decomposition of the plastic releases more toxins onto the food.

[juwboy]

toldyouso21:

I have not, at any stage, claimed that natural=harmless, chemical=harmful. That is what scientifically-illiterate posters believe.

However, I have objected to the description of diacetyl as "chemical" (with the associated implications for the scientifically illiterate among us), when it is clearly a "natural" substance. Read what it says in the last sentence of the report. It is produced industrially by a natural process, fermentation, on natural material.

Everyone who''s commented here has eaten butter, a natural product, so they''ve eaten diacetyl whether they realise it or not.

As for acetic acid, it''s used by the liver to biosynthesise cholesterol, which is partly converted into the reproductive hormones such as testosterone, estrone and progesterone, without which we would cease to exist.

Where did I say that diacetyl is the same as acetic acid? I said it''s metabolized (rapidly) to acetic acid, which, I''ll repeat, is a natural substance that is present in every cell in your body.

Thank you soooooooo much for explaining that a mixture of carbon and oxygen is different from carbon monoxide. I didn''t know that :-):-):-)

[samsel3]

Juboy; everything in our natural environment is made up of chemicals...made up from all the items listed on the periodic table...LOL

[sdrawrof9]

samsel=***

[juwboy]

Yes, samse13, I''ve known for more than 50 years that everything in our natural environment is composed of chemicals (although I wouldn''t really include photons or isolated fundamental particles, like electrons, in "everything").

I was making the point that the scientifically illiterate among us don''t understand this. The scientifically illiterate believe there''s a difference between "chemical" and "natural", so CBS''s use of "chemical" when referring to diacetyl, a natural substance, is inflammatory and misleading as far as those people are concerned. You and I, we understand this.

Besides having difficulty with spelling, it''s apparent you also have problems with reading.

[snixchance]

Haven''t any of you out there heard of real butter? I''m from Wisconsin and that is all I will ever use on my popcorn. In fact, before I even go to the movie theatre, I melt my own butter and pour it over my popcorn once I am seated. I don''t understand why so many chemicals are used to make something that tastes like butter. Use the real thing. It''s much better for you in moderation and I know you will really enjoy your popcorn then. I would even be willing to have the stores charge me 50 cents extra just to use real butter. Wake us to the real thing!

[samsel3]

Juboy I was laughing about the previous message that toldyouso left not you...please lighten up

[juwboy]

snixchance:

There''s a virtually zero probability that you''re going to read this but.....

.....diacetyl, although it''s called a "chemical" throughout this report is the substance that gives butter its characteristic NATURAL taste.

You only have to read the last sentence of the report to verify that this is the case.

The diacetyl used to flavor popcorn is produced on an industrial scale by the NATURAL process of fermentation of material obtained from NATURAL sources.

There is nothing "chemical" about it in the sense that you are using the word.