"The Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on OSHA’s failure to issue standards, including one for diacetyl, in April 2007. For more information, click here. "
It is a sad day when our government is tire of waiting around for OSHA to set a standard and even more so while people dieing. It wasn't the first time this has been addressed it has been a long hard road.
"House Democrats urged the Labor Department to address this serious health hazard in August 2006. For more information and for a copy of the August 2006 letter from House Democrats to the Department of Labor, click here." “Seven years after the first cases of popcorn lung were identified, it is stunning that OSHA has failed to protect American workers from this horrible disease,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the committee. “The cost of the Bush administration’s failure to act can be measured in the number of workers who have avoidably grown ill or died. This legislation is critical to stop the delays in protecting workers from this serious workplace hazard.”
Flavoring Suspected in Illness
Calif. Considers Banning Chemical Used in Microwave Popcorn
Irma Ortiz, 44
Doctor Links a Man’s Illness to a Microwave Popcorn Habit
Beware of the effects at home!
Federal Agencies Knew of Diacetyl Dangers and Kept Silent
Just Google it! and you will find never ending articles.
Popcorn Lung Illness News
September 6, 2007: First Case of 'Popcorn Lung' in Consumer
For a number of years, workers at microwave popcorn manufacturing plants have been at known risk of developing the lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans (called "popcorn lung") due to on-the-job exposure to diacetyl, a chemical found in buttery flavoring additive. Today, ABC News reports the first known case of "popcorn lung" in a consumer who ate large quantities of microwave popcorn. According to ABC, Wayne Watson of Centennial, Colorado "ate about two bags daily, but now he has quit because of the havoc it reeked on his lungs."
September 5, 2007: Popcorn Makers to Remove Flavoring Chemical
A number of microwave popcorn manufacturers are making efforts to remove the chemical food additive diacetyl from their products. Diacetyl, which is found in butter flavoring mixtures used in microwave popcorn, may cause bronchiolitis obliterans, a lung disease. The New York Times reports that "the three companies that sell Orville Redenbacher, Act II, Pop Secret and Jolly Time microwave popcorn said they planned to change the recipes for their butter-flavored microwave popcorn to remove diacetyl."
October 28, 2005: Federal Judge Dismisses Popcorn Worker's Fraud Claims
A popcorn factory worker filed fraud and civil-conspiracy claims against several butter-flavor manufacturers, alleging that exposure to a chemical in the flavorings (diacetyl) caused respiratory injuries. The plaintiff also contended that the defendants concealed government research about the dangers of these flavorings. A federal judge dismissed the fraud claims because the plaintiff failed to allege facts that could rise to the level of fraud under the law.
November 23, 2004: Defendants Prevail in Popcorn Butter Case
Four employees at a popcorn processing plant in Jasper, Missouri filed suit against the manufacturers of an artificial buttering flavor used in popcorn. The plaintiffs claimed that they developed lung disease due to exposure to diacetyl, the chemical used in butter flavorings. The jury found in favor of the defendants, who argued that they could not have known about (or warned of the potential dangers caused by) diacetyl exposure.
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