Don't Breathe in the Popcorn!

Microwaveable, butter-flavored popcorn is at the moment a hot topic, both on the Internet and in real life. A 53-year-old Colorado man has developed a serious lung condition that has previously only been found in people who work in popcorn plants. It is said to be the first of it's kind, and has been confirmed by a top industry official and various lung specialists.

Dr. Cecile Rose is the director of the occupational disease clinical programs at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver. She is the one who started treatment on the man, who is from Colorado, back in February. The patient had become short of breath, yet was healthy, fit, and a non-smoker. He was diagnosed as having a condition known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This is usually caused by repeated exposure to bacteria, mold, and/or dust. Yet they could find nothing in his lifestyle to suggest he had been breathing any of those in excess, until Dr. Rose remembered the findings she had worked on for years regarding the flavoring's in popcorn.

"Popcorn Worker's Lung" was normally seen only in workers at popcorn plants. Heated diacetyl becomes a vapor, and can make the small airways that are in the lungs to become both swollen and scarred. If you suffer form this ailment, you can actually breathe in deeply, but you will have trouble exhaling. The severe form of the condition can become fatal.

When Dr. Rose asked the man if he was around alot of popcorn, he was stunned. He answered yes, adding that he had eaten microwaved popcorn for 10 years at a rate of at least twice a day. The problem comes about when you breathe in the vapors of a fresh bag of popcorn, which is the heated diacetyl. The levels of diacetyl in the patient's home were found to be comparable to that of a popcorn plant.

After dropping his popcorn habit completely, the man improved dramatically. Six months later and 50 pounds lighter, his lung function has improved, if only slightly.

ConAgra Foods is the USA's biggest microwave popcorn producer, and plans are being made to remove diacetyl from their products in the near future. Pop Weaver has jumped on the concern quicker, already taking diacetyl out of its product, although they have done it based on their clients concerns. They still believe it is safe for consumers, but have decided to take the cautionary road.

Diacetyl is found in many common foods as a natural ingredient. Milk, cheese, and butter are among those with the chemical.

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