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.

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Diacetyl, a flavoring chemical in popcorn, has been linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare life-threatening disease coined 'popcorn lung.' The disease has stricken some microwave popcorn plant employees who inhaled diacetyl vapors when mixing large batches of flavors. Hundreds of popcorn lung lawsuits are pending, and millions have been awarded in confidential settlements.

The average microwave popcorn consumer is not believed to be at risk, although earlier in 2007 the first case of the disease was reported in a consumer who inhaled microwave popcorn fumes several times a day for years. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association states there's no worry for consumers as long as popcorn bags are opened away from the face.

Now the four biggest microwave popcorn manufacturers, Weaver Popcorn Company, ConAgra Foods, General Mills and American Pop Corn, have removed the flavoring chemical diacetyl from nearly all their product recipes. But diacetyl may still be lurking on the shelves. Stores will sell the old popcorn product first.

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