Recent news has reported cases of respiratory disease in workers that have been linked to the chemicals in butter flavoring for popcorn, but research shows knowledge of this linkage isn’t “new.”
Harmful for the workers
A May 7th article in the Washington Post reports that 44-year-old Irma Ortiz was diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans, a very rare and life-threatening disease. Her job in the food-flavoring industry is what landed her in a whole group full of workers with this lung-obstructing disease.
While news of another victim has turned up in the media as of late, news of the linkage between the chemical used in the butter flavoring, diacetyl and this life-threatening lung disease has been around for almost 7 years. In 2001, academic studies have proved diacetyl’s harmful effects, according to the Washington Post, and since then major popcorn companies have paid out over $100 million in lawsuits over this issue. However, there seems to be no known regulation for the use of diacetyl. Washington Post reported in May that the Occupational Safety and Health administration is still deciding on standards for workers who handle this...