Special Alert: Microwaved Popcorn Could Be Dangerous to Your Health

September 2007

Beware – your popcorn might smell delicious when it’s fresh out of the microwave, but those same savory fumes might lead to a dangerous form of lung disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently evaluating the dangers of diacetyl, a microwave popcorn chemical additive that has caused a serious lung condition – sometimes referred to as “popcorn lung” – in factory workers.

Studies have shown that over time, diacetyl vapors may lead to a form of lung disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans. Since 2000, there have been cases of multiple popcorn factory workers suffering from this condition. This past April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially said that workers at popcorn factories are at risk of contracting this form of lung disease. ConAgra, manufacturer of Orville Redenbacher’s and Act II popcorn, has announced they will remove the chemical from their products within the next year.

In July of this year, a doctor’s letter to the FDA addressed the possibility of diacetyl causing lung disease in consumers. The doctor explained the case of a patient currently undergoing treatment for lung disease that had eaten several bags of microwave popcorn a day for many years. Although there is currently no direct connection between lung disease and people that frequently consume microwave popcorn, the case was enough to get the attention of the FDA.