Buttery flavoring good for popcorn but bad for lungs

The buttery flavoring known as diacetly is suspected to be a cause of lung diseases in factory workers; Democrats are responding.

Congress passed a bill on last Wednesday which if also passed by the Senate would ban the use of the flavoring two years after the bill’s signing.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, Democrats are pushing to eliminate the product before more popcorn industry workers or others are harmed.

The Bush Administration and the Senate believe the Democrats are acting too soon. The Republican’s prefer to take action after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducts a study on the ingredient; they believe diacetly could be replaced with a more harmful additive.

Exposure to diacetly fumes may be the cause of “popcorn packer’s lung” or bronchiolitis obliterans, a disease which destroys the lung’s airways. A lung transplant is the only recourse.

International Flavoring & Fragrances (IFF) and Bush Boake Allen, both flavor manufacturers, have been sued by popcorn factory workers who claim the companies were aware of diacetyls dangers. According to joplinglobe.com, 43 workers have either won verdicts or received settlements since 2004.

But the OSHA says that there is not a direct relationship between the disease and exposure to the fumes because factory workers are exposed to other flavorings.

On sixwise.com, the OSHA lists the following symptoms of diacetyl:

• Eye, mucous membrane, respiratory system, skin irritation Persistent cough
• Phlegm production
• Wheezing
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Unusual fatigue
• Episodes of mild fever or generalized aches
• Severe skin rashes

Popcorn manufacture Pop Weaver has replaced diacetly with another flavoring, and ConAgra plans to eliminate the ingredient from its products within the next year.

Diacetyl occurs naturally in foods such as butter, coffee and vinegar.

It is used to add flavor to butter, butterscotch and creams and may be found in microwave popcorn, icing, fast food, baked products, syrups, salad dressing, processed cheese, sour cream, non-and low-fat dairy products and cottage cheese.