Popcorn Lung
Popcorn lung disease is common name for lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans. The healthy workers in factories manufacturing microwave popcorn when exposed to diacetyl for a long time develop bronchiolitis obliterans. The disease occurs when patients granulation tissue blocks bronchioles. The Occupational Safety and Health Organization were petitioned by the United Food and Commercial Workers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to pass an act to protect the workers from the ill effects diacetyl.
Popcorn Lung Disease and the Original Case
Popcorn lung disease is common name for lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans. The healthy workers in factories manufacturing microwave popcorn when exposed to diacetyl for a long time develop bronchiolitis obliterans. The disease occurs when patients granulation tissue blocks bronchioles
Jury awarded a popcorn plant worker $ 2.7 million in Missouri for his claim of respiratory problems caused due to diacetyl exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Organization was petitioned by the United Food and Commercial Workers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to pass an act to protect the workers from the ill effects diacetyl.
The consumer who developed the heath condition called “popcorn lung” filed case against the stores. He claimed that they failed to warn him against the harmful effects of microwave popcorn.
Wayne Watson of Centennial, Colorado developed bronchiolitis obliterans, a disease commonly found in people working at microwave popcorn factories. These workers are regularly exposed to a chemical called diacetyl. It is a compound that gives flavor to butter and damages lung when inhaled. After learning about the harmful effects of diacetyl, manufacturers provided the workers with safety equipments. However, consumers were not warned.
When National Jewish Hospital learned that Watson consumed two packets of microwave popcorn regularly, they tested the air in his home to check for the presence of diacetyl. Though the factory workers develop bronchiolitis obliterans after exposing to 0.75 and 4 parts per million (ppm) of diacetyl, the chemical found in his kitchen varied from 0.5 to3 ppm.
After this incident, four largest microwave popcorn manufacturers declared that they are phasing out the use of diacetyl in popcorns and other products. In fact, in the past also, many lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers but Watson filed the case against the stores.
Grocery chains like the Kroger Company, store King Soopers, Dillon Companies Inc.and food distributor Inter- American Products Inc were named in the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuits, these companies “failed to warn that preparing microwave popcorn in a microwave oven as intended and smelling the buttery aroma could expose the consumer to an inhalation hazard and a risk of lung injury”.