Free Republic

Chronic exposure to high levels of a flavoring chemical called diacetyl, which is found in many foods and beverages, can cause lung damage. Now, a study suggests that even short-term exposures to this flavoring chemical can damage the lungs of mice when paired with a second issue, like the flu. Diacetyl, which gives microwave popcorn its buttery flavor, was first linked to flavorings-related lung disease in the early 2000's when a group of former microwave-popcorn factory workers came down with the illness. A similar lung disease has been seen among coffee roasters who inhale large concentrations of diacetyl, which is...

There’s nothing like freshly popped popcorn, especially when popped in one of those hand-cracked poppers with coconut oil. A lot of folks like to nuke their popcorn, and that’s where they could be running into some real trouble. Here’s the deal. Some researchers at the University of Minnesota discovered that the stuff that gives buttery flavor to microwave popcorn could trigger Alzheimer’s disease. They say the chemical diacetyl causes certain proteins to clump together in the brain, which, they say is a sure sign of Alzheimer’s. But wait, there’s more. Diacetyl also contributes to popcorn lung. Diacetyl is the stuff...