Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Death by Popcorn!


I was doing my normal websurfing this morning, looking for ideas (good or bad) when I came across this news article from the AP Doctor warns consumers of popcorn fumes. I hadn't even read the article before I brokedown laughing.

"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."

Okay, after all of these years of Microwaving popcorn this is the first case. Also, he developed lung disease from the fumes of microwaving popcorn several times a day for years."

The doctor went on to say "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."

This is laughable, what other dangerous activities has this man been involved with in the past several years? Maybe, he got lung cancer from checking his own breath every morning after he brushed his teeth. I don't want to make light of the fact the man has cancer but for any sane person, let alone a doctor, to publicly proclaim that the fumes from popcorn may cause cancer, is ridiculous. Though it did give me something to post.

Microwave popcorn is now a high risk behavior please use caution and stop smelling the popcorn before you eat it. The Popcorn lobby will be up-in-arms and I'm sure Orvil Redenbacher is rolling around in his grave.

In fairness there has been some data that suggests a problem in the manufacturing of microwavable popcorn.

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."

Where is Steven Colbert when you need him. Please Steven get to the truth of this matter

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thanks for your time and post. Actually, the aroma of microwaved popcorn with all that chemical butter makes my lungs ache like crazy. Makes me physically ill. Just a couple of minutes in the same room that the stuff was made in, I end up sick as hell. I thought it was all in my head until I read about others that had the same problem. Can't stand the microwaved popcorn!