Have you ever thought that microwave popcorns can make you sick? Neither did Wayne Watson.
When Watson came to Denver’s National Jewish Medical and Research Center complaining about lung problems last September he went trough a series of tests and biopsies and in the end was put on inhalers and steroids.
After the doctors realized that none of the treatments were helping he was referred to pulmonary specialist Dr. Cecile Rose.
She took him trough a 90-minute interview, trying to figure out which one of his habits is making him ill. After realizing that his symptoms matched those of workers in popcorn factories she said, ‘I’ve gotta ask this question, it’s going to seem weird, but do you ever eat microwave, butter-flavored popcorn?”
Watson recalled. “It was like lights went off, marching bands started to play. I said, ‘How did you know to ask that? I am microwave popcorn. I eat two bags of it a day every day.”
He’d been eating that much, for at least a decade. He said, He noticed some funny changes while singing that he could not explain.
“Several years ago during choir rehearsals, whenever I’d do a solo, I would notice my lung capacity was diminishing, and I wasn’t able to sustain the notes like I used to be able to,” he said. “Slowly my lung capacity went from the high 80s down to about the low 50s.”
Hospital investigators found that factory workers were exposed to diacetyl levels between 0.75 and 4 parts per million. Tests in Watson’s kitchen showed crazy amount between 0.5 and 3 parts per million, according to the hospital.
Diacetyl is a naturally occurring chemical compound that gives butter its flavour. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a flavour ingredient, but apparently it’s vapors are not as harmless.
The chemical has been the subject of hundreds of lawsuits against the companies that produce or use the butter flavoring. They have paid out more than $100 million over the past five years to settle lawsuits filed by workers who have contracted the disease from exposure to the vapors. So far one death from the disease known as popcorn lung, has been confirmed.
Last month, the United States’ four biggest makers of microwave popcorn announced they are working on cool new recipes for their products that will eliminate the need to use diacetyl.
ConAgra, which makes Orville Redenbacher and Act II popcorn, responded to the story with this statement:
“We are fully confident that microwave popcorn is safe for consumers to prepare and eat. However, in order to eliminate even the perception of risk for consumers and to provide the safest possible work environment for employees who handle large quantities of diacetyl, we plan to eliminate the use of added diacetyl in our microwave popcorn products within a year.”
Instead of suing the company that made the popcorns, Watson is filling a crazy lawsuit against the store where he bought them.
Watson’s lawyer, Kenneth McClain, said the lawsuit filed in US District Court names The Kroger Co and two of its divisions: grocery store King Soopers’ parent company, Dillon Companies Inc, and food distributor Inter-American Products Inc.
A spokeswoman for Kroger said the company does not comment on lawsuits.
Tags: Breaking News, cool crazy stuff, Weird News
I’m writing a paper for my Natural Science class.
The object is to provide a controvesy story, stating both sides. Then decide which side has the best scientistic research. My question is did Dr. Rose perform tests concerning his age, weight, or smoking habit? These things are not listed in the article.
And how can I find where The Kroger Co. or the other stores that are listed in the lawsuit comments?