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Monday, September 10, 2007
The problem with popcorn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Environmental Protection Agency conducted an April 2006 study into potential health risks of diacetyl, a chemical in microwave popcorn, and shared those results with popcorn producers three months later.
But for 13 months, data contained in the report has not been available to the public. During that time, Americans have consumed more than 750 million pounds of home-popped popcorn, according to statistics posted online by an industry group.
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified diacetyl in 2002 as the cause of a debilitating and sometimes fatal lung disease among workers in the plants where it is produced, as well as plants where it is added to popcorn.
Are you concerned about health risks from diacetyl? Will you consume microwave popcorn again, or opt for the old-fashioned air popped version?
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