Thinking of taking in a movie this weekend?  You may want to choose something other than the butter- flavored popcorn.  While there have been no published reports to show that consumption of diacetyl, a chemical component of artificial butter flavoring, is damaging – the vapors during manufacturing have been very damaging to many workers.  In fact, a new disease called “popcorn workers lung” or bronchiolitis obliterans, has stricken many workers.

Compounding the upset is that the information that may have saved many people’s health was circulating as early as 1993.  At that time, BASF, a chemical company, studied diacetyl, the buttery-smelling chemical, and had reported that studies showed negative effects on rats.  The studies showed that rats breathing in diacetyl vapors for even just 4 hours, gasped for breath and half in the study died within a day.  However, this study was not published in the public domain, but was accessible through a database kept by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association, an industry trade group.

With attention paid at that time, workers may have been able to save their lungs and not be on transplant lists.  There has been only one known case that occurred in a person that did not work in the popcorn industry, but that person was an extreme fan.  That 53-year-old Colorado man developed the same lung condition as workers but reported eating microwave popcorn at least twice a day for more than 10 years.  Twice a day for more than 10 years – incredible!  This serious devotee loved the smell of “butter” so much that he would inhale deeply when the bag was cut open after popping in a microwave.  Interestingly, since this man was advised by his Physician to stop eating microwave popcorn – his lung condition has improved slightly.

I would always advise people to stay away from things that “smell just like butter”, “taste just like butter” but are not. That goes for all products – artificial flavors are used mostly to cut expense for the manufacturer and still maintain a flavor.  The real thing isn’t used because it is simply too expensive….Your health is worth the expense of what is real, good and SAFE!  

Sandra Foschi is a licensed Physical Therapist and Nutritionist of Health SOS who has been engaged by Revolution Health. No information in this blog is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Revolution Health.