Tattling on microwave popcorn
Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
I hear it from my kids all the time: "I'm telling!" And now I'm here to tell on one of your maybe favorite treats: Buttery microwave popcorn. I'm sorry to be the one to do it but I must inform you of a potentially harmful chemical found in the artificial butter. It's called Diacetyl.
When tested on rats, Diacetyl -- also used in other snack foods, cheese, and bakery products to enhance aroma and taste -- caused significant damage in airway passages. When officials at Orville Redenbacher were asked about Diacetyl, they reported that the issue centers around workplace exposure, not consumer consumption. They were confident their processes were safe. But one employee in one plant was awarded $20 million for injuries caused by the chemical.
It seems popcorn workers can develop what's called "popcorn workers lung." And while government agencies claim microwave popcorn poses no risk to humans, the FDA has yet to conduct a study on the issue that may be remedied by proper plant ventilation.
If this topic causes you any concern, try opening your bags of popcorn under a vent to release fumes. Or go the old fashioned route and cook your corn over the stove and then add butter. Or forgo the butter altogether. It'll save on chemicals -- and calories too.
When tested on rats, Diacetyl -- also used in other snack foods, cheese, and bakery products to enhance aroma and taste -- caused significant damage in airway passages. When officials at Orville Redenbacher were asked about Diacetyl, they reported that the issue centers around workplace exposure, not consumer consumption. They were confident their processes were safe. But one employee in one plant was awarded $20 million for injuries caused by the chemical.
It seems popcorn workers can develop what's called "popcorn workers lung." And while government agencies claim microwave popcorn poses no risk to humans, the FDA has yet to conduct a study on the issue that may be remedied by proper plant ventilation.
If this topic causes you any concern, try opening your bags of popcorn under a vent to release fumes. Or go the old fashioned route and cook your corn over the stove and then add butter. Or forgo the butter altogether. It'll save on chemicals -- and calories too.
Recent Posts
- Should Yoga Qualify as an Olympic Sport? (11/24/2009)
- Thanksgiving: Pick Your Poison (11/24/2009)
- Holiday Diet Destroyers: This Week on AOL Health (11/24/2009)
- Top Off With Agility (11/24/2009)
- Stuck Between Sizes, Yoga For Weight Loss and More (11/24/2009)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 2-17-2008 @ 2:02PM
Thank you Alton Brown and the Food Network:
1/4 cup good quality popcorn
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or popcorn salt
Sprinkle jalapeno seasoning mix
Paper lunch bag
Stapler
Toss the popcorn with the olive oil, salt, and jalapeno seasoning mix in the paper bag. Fold the top of the bag over and staple the bag twice to close. Place the bag in the microwave and microwave on high for 2 minutes to 3 minutes, or until there are about 5 seconds between pops.
NOTE: Popcorn salt is a super-fine salt that is designed especially for sticking to food such as popcorn. It has the taste of regular table salt, but its granules are much finer.
Reply
T.Z. 2-17-2008 @ 6:39PM
I don't understand this site at all. Diacetyl has been in the news for years, and made headlines in virtually every paper when a popcorn-factory worker sued over lung damage from it in 2005. Last September, the major popcorn manufacturers announced that would remove diacetyl from their products, and this also made headlines worldwide. You can already buy boxes of JollyTime with a sticker that says "diacetyl-free." This blog itself has already done three posts on the subject. So how is this "informing us"?
Also, diacetyl fumes are released when butter flavoring is heated in the microwave. Forgoing added butter on corn you've popped yourself may lower the calorie content, but it makes no sense to say it'll save on chemicals.
Reply