Year 3, Day 185: Popcorn Can Kill You

Consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to federal regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital.

A pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center has written to federal agencies to say doctors there believe they have the first case of a consumer who developed lung disease from the fumes of microwaving popcorn several times a day for years.

"We cannot be sure that this patient's exposure to butter flavored microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease," cautioned Dr. Cecile Rose. "However, we have no other plausible explanation."

The July letter, made public Tuesday by a public health policy blog, refers to a potentially fatal disease commonly called popcorn lung that has been the subject of lawsuits by hundreds of workers at food factories exposed to chemicals used for flavoring.

In response to Rose's finding, the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association issued a statement Tuesday recommending that its members reduce "to the extent possible" the amount of diacetyl in butter flavorings they make. It noted that diacetyl is approved for use in flavors by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

One national popcorn manufacturer, Weaver Popcorn Co. of Indianapolis, said last week it would replace the butter flavoring ingredient because of consumer concern. Congress has also been debating new safety measures for workers in food processing plants exposed to diacetyl.

The FDA said in an e-mail it is evaluating Rose's letter and "carefully considering the safety and regulatory issues it raises."

Fred Blosser, spokesman for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said it is the first case the institute has seen of lung disease apparently linked to popcorn fumes outside the workplace.

The occupational safety arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is working on a response to the letter.

William Allstetter, spokesman for National Jewish Medical, confirmed the letter was sent by Rose, a specialist in occupational and environmental lung diseases and director of the hospital's Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic.

"There have been no other cases that we know of other than the industrial occupational ones," Allstetter said.

Rose acknowledged in the letter that it is difficult to confirm through one case that popping buttered microwave popcorn at home can cause lung disease.

However, she said she wanted to alert regulators of the potential public health implications.

Rose said the ailing patient, a man whom she wouldn't identify, consumed "several bags of extra butter flavored microwave popcorn" every day for several years.

He described progressively worsening respiratory symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath. Tests found his ability to exhale was deteriorating, Rose said, although his condition seemed to stabilize after he quit using microwave popcorn.

She said her staff measured airborne levels of diacetyl in the patient's home when he cooked the popcorn. The levels were "similar to those reported in the microwave oven exhaust area" at the quality assurance unit of the popcorn plant where the affected employees worked, she said.

David Michaels, of the George Washington University School of Public Health, who first published Rose's letter on his blog, The Pump Handle, said the finding is another reason for federal regulators to crack down on diacetyl exposure by workers and consumers.

"This letter is a red flag, suggesting that exposure to food flavor chemicals is not just killing workers, but may also be causing disease in people exposed to food flavor chemicals in their kitchens," Michaels wrote on his public health policy blog.


Breafkast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: New Ginza
Edamame
Double Salad
Sashimi (no white rice)

Snack
1 Old Smokey
2 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Dinner
Salad with Feta
Broccoli
String Beans
Grilled SHrimp

Some of Magnolia's Chocolate Cheesecake
1/2 Jello Pudding

Still trying to get back into the swing of the things. Haven't been back to Russo's yet. Who said "Wake me when September comes?"

Year 2, Day 312 Tuesdays with Orville

In a slow news week, there were some significant changes over at Russo's, but only for those who follow closely what I eat every week. I have definitively gone off red leaf, and on to romaine. I realize that's heresy for some people, especially the red and green leaf people who think romaine has no taste. It's not entirely true—it's sort of like the statement that water has no taste. But in fact Dasani and Aquifina taste different than Poland Spring water. Strange, but true. Romaine is a good sturdy lettuce and so far it weighs less more frequently and has more crunch per bite. For all of these reasons and some too mundane too mention, I have switched. In other Russo's news, they have added broccoli slaw, which I love and does not weigh much. Unfortunately, it's at the end, so you have to kind of pile it on. I'm working on it.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Ikea Muesli
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Russo's ($5.29)
Romaine, red pepper, red onion, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms, broccoli slaw
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
4 Beef Jerky STicks
~1 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn
1 stick 3/4 oz 50% Reduced Fat Cheddar
~4 cups Orville Redinbacher Microwave Popcorn

Dinner
Steak
Cauliflower
Three Bean Salad

I was pretty hungry today and I only the left over bits of a large bag of popcorn that I took into the office from my car, of all things. There wasn't much in it, so I felt compelled by the need for more popcorn to make some of the microwave popcorn we had just recently acquired at Costco. Naturally, the smell of popcorn lured all of my office mates to me, and I thanked them for taking it away from me before I could finish the entire popped bag. The Orville Redinbacher popcorn wins the award for most confusing nutrition label. They give calories only for 'unpopped tablespoons' from which it is not clear how many of said measurements are in the bag. A few of my coworkers attempted to help me unravel the mystery, but it continued to be a puzzle. For that reason alone I suggest you avoid it, even though it was yummy.