Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Linked to Diacetyl in Microwave Popcorn

Since at least 2000, when the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated several cases of bronchiolitis obliterans in former workers of a microwave popcorn plant in Jasper, Missouri, manufacturers who produce and use flavorings have known of the inherent dangers associated with these flavorings, particularly diacetyl. After years of further study, NIOSH issued a safety alert to employers recommending that they take measures to limit employees' occupational respiratory exposures to food flavorings and flavoring ingredients in workplaces where flavorings are made or used. NIOSH provided these steps to reduce potential risks of occupational lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans. Not surprisingly, a 2006 study found that even low exposures to diacetyl can lead to bronchiolitis obliterans (Kanwal).

Even after scientific evidence has linked bronchiolitis obliterans in workers to certain food flavorings and diacetyl, manufacturers keep using it. Federal regulators let them. And no federal agency looked into the potential threat to consumers, who breathe in the fumes from microwave popcorn, until the FDA finally decided to look into it this month (September 2006). Obviously money comes before everything.

If you have bronchiolitis obliterans, you need to talk to a product liability lawyer. Fred Pritzker has been practicing product liability law for over 30 years. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has also achieved status as a Certified Civil Advocate from the National Board of Trial Advocacy and as a Certified Trial Specialist from the Minnesota State Bar Association. In recognition of his achievements, other lawyers have selected him for inclusion in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. To contact Fred Pritzker or another lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. regarding a free consultation, call toll free at 1-888-377-8900 , e-mail info@pritzkerlaw.com or fill out our online consultation form.

Source: Kanwal, R., et al., Evaluation of flavorings-related lung disease risk at six microwave popcorn plants, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 48(2): 149-157, 2006.


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