Microwave popcorn - the savory killer!

[Phait]

No wonder there's so many diseases and cancers, we take for granted our foods are actually safe.

http://health.yahoo.com/news/179052

http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/BU/2,3-butanedione.html

:o

Toxicology
Harmful if swallowed. Skin, eye and respiratory irritant. (Note that there is some evidence that chronic exposure to this compound may contribute to the development of the potentially fatal condition bronchiolitis obliterans. Consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to federal regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital.

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. "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." 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.

One national popcorn manufacturer, Weaver Popcorn Co. of Indianapolis, said last week it would replace the butter flavoring ingredient because of consumer concern. Congress has also been debating new safety measures for workers in food processing plants exposed to diacetyl. The FDA said in an e-mail it is evaluating Rose's letter and "carefully considering the safety and regulatory issues it raises." Fred Blosser, spokesman for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said it is the first case the institute has seen of lung disease apparently linked to popcorn fumes outside the workplace. The occupational safety arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is working on a response to the letter. William Allstetter, spokesman for National Jewish Medical, confirmed the letter was sent by Rose, a specialist in occupational and environmental lung diseases and director of the hospital's Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic.

"There have been no other cases that we know of other than the industrial occupational ones," Allstetter said.
Rose acknowledged in the letter that it is difficult to confirm through one case that popping buttered microwave popcorn at home can cause lung disease. However, she said she wanted to alert regulators of the potential public health implications. Rose said the ailing patient, a man whom she wouldn't identify, consumed "several bags of extra butter flavored microwave popcorn" every day for several years. He described progressively worsening respiratory symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath. Tests found his ability to exhale was deteriorating, Rose said, although his condition seemed to stabilize after he quit using microwave popcorn.

She said her staff measured airborne levels of diacetyl in the patient's home when he cooked the popcorn. The levels were "similar to those reported in the microwave oven exhaust area" at the quality assurance unit of the popcorn plant where the affected employees worked, she said.
David Michaels, of the George Washington University School of Public Health, who first published Rose's letter on his blog, The Pump Handle, said the finding is another reason for federal regulators to crack down on diacetyl exposure by workers and consumers.

"This letter is a red flag, suggesting that exposure to food flavor chemicals is not just killing workers, but may also be causing disease in people exposed to food flavor chemicals in their kitchens," Michaels wrote on his public health policy blog.

[thefly]

This is beyond dumb.

he quit using microwave popcorn.

My God, that cracks me up!

[The Red Slaughter]

I think I'm officially scr***D, then. I usually eat microwave popcorn each two weeks.

[Steve]

One person out of how many million that eat the stuff on a day to day basis? Hmmm.

[Llama Gibbz]

She said her staff measured airborne levels of diacetyl in the patient's home when he cooked the popcorn. The levels were "similar to those reported in the microwave oven exhaust area" at the quality assurance unit of the popcorn plant where the affected employees worked, she said.

Now measure the levels in the whole room and i bet the levels are tiny
Your truly moronic to have your face up against a microwave exhaust vent.
You deserve to die a tastey buttery death.

He also ate it daily,so he probably wasnt very fit to begin with.

[thefly]

How can this be any type of study when you use words like this:

"We cannot be sure that this patient's exposure to butter flavored microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease,"

Just such tripe that people eat up and the end result is "MICROWAVEZ POPCORNZ KILSS US!!!"

No wonder there's so many diseases and cancers, we take for granted our foods are actually safe.


Everything kills you, all the time.

[TerminX]

I don't eat microwave popcorn, but that's more because I didn't care for the number next to "trans fat" on the box rather than the results of some strange study.

[gamejunkie]

Everything kills you, all the time.

Exactly, so pick your delicious poison :D

[Tang Lung]

That's terrible...I'm sticking to hemlock and anthrax from now on if that's what this store bought shit does to you :mad:

[Phait]

You changed your avatar :(

[Scream]

I don't eat microwave popcorn, but that's more because I didn't care for the number next to "trans fat" on the box rather than the results of some strange study.

This is how I solve that, if they sell it where you are:

http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/17242/name/PCBlueMenuButterFlavourMicrowavePoppingCorn/catid/193/type/2

And no, it doesn't taste as good as the stuff filled with saturated and trans fats. And no, it won't kill you nearly as quickly.

Trans fats = poison

[Tang Lung]

You changed your avatar :(

No I didn't. You've clearly been eating too much poison popcorn, and it's sent you MAD!

[Jiminator]

that's actually not too good, I eat a lot of microwave popcorn....




and have not been feeling so good lately....





:)

[Rellik66]

you're gonna die a miserable, yet tasty death! :tinyted:

meh, I don't care for popcorn much, but my mom once went on all popcorn diet once, or at least that's what it seemed like since I never saw her eat anything else unless we went out to eat.

[Scream]

you're gonna die a miserable, yet tasty death! :tinyted:

meh, I don't care for popcorn much, but my mom once went on all popcorn diet once, or at least that's what it seemed like since I never saw her eat anything else unless we went out to eat.

It can be good diet food IF you don't coat it with butter and salt, which leaves it basically flavourless, but crunchy. :)

[NutWrench]

Last week, I used a pot, popcorn kernels and vegetable oil to cook up some popcorn on a stovetop. Some of my friends were amazed that you could actually make popcorn that way. :confused: :)

[peoplessi]

"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."


Says enough.

[Scream]

Last week, I used a pot, popcorn kernels and vegetable oil to cook up some popcorn on a stovetop. Some of my friends were amazed that you could actually make popcorn that way. :confused: :)

Ya, that was the method when I was a kid. It was messy and a bit of a pain in the ass, so it was a real treat when we had popcorn. Then they came out with hot air poppers, which was way easier and healthier as there are ZERO additives during the popping process that way. Perhaps people should go back to that. It's really not much tougher than microwave popcorn. I used to pop it that way every single day 25 years ago.

[Rider]

No wonder there's so many diseases and cancers, we take for granted our foods are actually safe.

So you're telling us you didn't know that half of the stuff that they sell to the public is actually bad for you? (note: not just unhealthy in certain amounts, just plain bad for you. period.)

Don't you people read what's on the label (http://curezone.com/foods/enumbers.asp)?

[Phait]

No, I'm aware of stuff like HFCS and certain fats, etc. but I was never aware of diacetyl.

[NutWrench]

No, I'm aware of stuff like HFCS and certain fats, etc. but I was never aware of diacetyl.

A tragic but yummy food additive brought to us by our pals at the Food and Drug Administration. They always have our best interests at heart. ;)

[Jiminator]

eh, I just bought a hot air popper from walmart for $16. its a little bland but it should be fine with some butter on it. Much better than the $5/box of 12. My wife likes to use a pot with oil, but I don't care for the taste. :)

[Scream]

eh, I just bought a hot air popper from walmart for $16. its a little bland but it should be fine with some butter on it. Much better than the $5/box of 12. My wife likes to use a pot with oil, but I don't care for the taste. :)

Unfortunately, ALL the butter you buy these days has trans fats in it, so it's kinda like eating poison.

I wish they'd ban that shit and make food manufacturers change their processes.

[Jiminator]

methinks you are talking about margarine, butter has little trans fat, but more saturated fat.

for a table:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qatrans2.html#s4q3

anyway maybe canola oil or something like that will work.

[Scream]

Ya, margarine is significantly worse, but butter has it's share as well (about 2% of all the butter you eat is trans fat) and about 50% of butter is saturated fat, which is better than trans, but still shitty for you. Definitely something you want to limit your intake of.

But I agree. It is sooooooooo tasty...

Everything that tastes great kills you unfortunately.

Edit: Wow, look at the cholesterol level of butter in that table you linked to. Yikes! I can feel the coronary coming on now...

[Commando Nukem]

Eat a lot of poison and die.

Eat a little every day and you get used to it.

Seriously you people are so sickeningly fearful of your food.

Just for that im going to eat even more of DICKS FRENCH FRIES. They are the best french fries ever. HELLO TRANS FAT. You are my friend.

http://home.comcast.net/~iocat/dicks1.jpg

[thefly]

No wonder there's so many diseases and cancers, we take for granted our foods are actually safe.


Actually, we take for granted how many diseases we don't contract because our foods are so much safer and regulated than at any point in the history of the world.

[Hudson]

Oh my god killer popcorn! Yeah whatever, pass me the bowl :p

[Jiminator]

hows about some antifreeze in your toothpaste? the US standards might appear to be a joke, until you see how other countries are not applying them to products for export to the US. Then you have to really wonder what type of life the people lead in these countries, were basic protections are not guaranteed.

[alexgk]

Microwave Popcorn of Doom: Now with Extra Toxic-Delly-Butter!

[December Man]

Funny. Never eaten popcorn out of a microwave... I WILL LIVE FOREVER!!! Now pass me the chips.

[8IronBob]

Heh, maybe more stuff made in China that needs recalled, like half the stuff that come from over there.
Seems like all of this is an act of war, don't ask me why.

[Phait]

More surprisingly there are chemicals in our clothing that can have effects over time:

I wonder if it was better to live in the 40s and 50s...


http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/7141/clean-clothes-and-the-toxins-they-hide
The clothes we wear and the way we keep them clean can actually shorten our life span. What role is fashion playing in your longevity plans?

In the United States, dyes containing benzidine - a substance that is easily absorbed through the skin - are no longer used because they are so highly carcinogenic.

Most of the clothing that we buy today is imported from other countries that in many cases do contain these dyes. Additionally, let's take a look at "no-iron" cotton fabrics.

These are treated with formaldehyde resin, the fumes of which can cause allergies, asthma, cough, fatigue, headaches, restless sleep, and skin rash. Your best bet for good health is to wear naturally dyed cotton fabric.

Hang Toxins Out to Dry
Traditional dry cleaning makes use of a chemical solvent, called perchloroethylene, to remove stains. The chemical residue of this solvent is toxic to humans; in fact, many people experience such adverse reactions from dry-cleaned clothing as dizziness, headache, sinus congestion, and shortness of breath.

Perchloroethylene has also been found to cause cancer in animals. Minimize your exposure to chemicals by airing out your dry-cleaned garments for at least 24 hours before putting them away in closets or drawers. Another better option is to seek out dry cleaners that use only organic, nonchemical cleaning methods.

Clean of Chemicals?
Laundry methods are not totally free of health risks, either. When we clean our clothing with chlorinated laundry detergent and bleach, inhalation can irritate or damage the lungs and upper airway.

Your healthy alternative is to launder your clothes in baking soda or natural detergent. Brighten those whites with borax or nonchlorine bleach. When you stick to the natural stuff, you will not only get truly clean clothes but also help save the environment from degradation.

Keep Moths Out Naturally
Moths spell bad news for your clothes and nothing is more aggravating than finding out that there is a moth hole in your favorite sweater.

Tempting as it might be, don't use mothballs. They contain a benzene compound that can cause cancer. Instead, opt for the natural alternatives: cedar balls or panels and dried citronella, lavender, marigold, and pennyroyal that can be purchased in herb shops. Another option is to place your clothing in vacuum-sealed bags for storage.

A Caution About All that Glitters
When your favorite silver ring is tarnished, before reaching for your jewelry cleaner, consider this: one of the substances commonly found in these cleaners is cyanide - the potent poison that can affect you negatively through fume inhalation and skin contact.

Though a seemingly small amount of toxicity, these exposures add up, compromising our health over the long term. Some simple nontoxic alternatives for jewelry cleaning can be found around the house. To clean silver, line a bowl (preferably glass) with aluminum foil and fill with three cups of hot water mixed with two tablespoons of cream of tartar, readily available in the spice or baking section of your supermarket.

Once this mixture dissolves, soak your silver jewelry for one hour and then rinse with water. For gold, use baking soda or toothpaste with a soft cloth.

I hope this blog finds you fashionably healthy! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

--Dr. Mao

[Scream]

I wonder if it was better to live in the 40s and 50s...



Ya, when everybody smoked and didn't know it killed them...

[Phait]

Not everybody smoked. I wouldn't have.

[thefly]

Yeah, polio was really just an annoyance.

[Scream]

Not everybody smoked. I wouldn't have.

Bit of a silly statement (IMO) to talk about what you would and wouldn't have done had you been born 50 years earlier, considering the world and the environment you would have been living in would have been incredibly different.

Anyway, a LOT of people smoked compared to now, and it was not recognized as a problem. My point was really that people who romanticize the past as if there was some time where everything was perfect conveniently forget a LOT of problems that existed that we've overcome.

[December Man]

More surprisingly there are chemicals in our clothing that can have effects over time


Dots? Goddamn Warlocks...