Better health

By DebbieDoRight

September 11, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this

This is why people don’t trust “Big Business”. They are not concerned about the consumer; they are only concerned about their wallets.

By Beautiful

September 11, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this

For years I have been hearing about the danger of microwave ovens. Put the two together, we’re doomed!!! I’m going back to air popcorn.

Quote - “It’s not where you are, it’s where you want to be”.

By poplung

September 11, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this

I have thrown my microwave popcorn in the trash and will not buy it again! I’ll also go back to air popcorn.

By SB

September 11, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

It’s frightening how our government and corporate America so easily disregard the health and safety of consumers. No, I’m done with microwave popcorn. It’s more fun to air pop anyway.

By holly

September 11, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this

I will still eat microwave popcorn in moderation. What I do that’s riskier than that, is occasionally eat raw oysters! I’ll still eat at Spondivitz - it’s a great restaurant! Stuff happens to folks everywhere… don’t let it keep you from living Atlanta!

By jayge

September 11, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

We microwave our own popcorn in a microwave popper and add our own margarine. Less expensive, no salt and low fat.

By TN

September 11, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

Give me a break. Almost anything will be bad for you if not eaten, taken or drunk in moderation. If anyone loses 50 pounds once they stop eating popcorn, I think their problem goes beyond popcorn.

This is an excerpt from the article in the NY Times about the man who was sick and started the whole scare:

“I am Mr. Popcorn. I love popcorn.”

The man told Dr. Rose that he had eaten microwave popcorn at least twice a day for more than 10 years.

“When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much,” Dr. Rose said.

Dr. Rose measured levels of diacetyl in the man’s home after he made popcorn and found levels of the chemical were similar to those in microwave popcorn plants. She asked the man to stop eating microwave popcorn.

Six months later, the man has lost 50 pounds and his lung function has not only stopped deteriorating but has actually improved slightly, Dr. Rose said.

By Futlon Conty Mom

September 11, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

It is my understanding that the effects come from INHALING the steam when the bag is first popped. It clearly states on the bags to not open directly into your face….now how much effect the ‘second hand’ diacetyl has, to my knowledge has not been studied.

Air popped pop corn is NASTY. If I stop microwaving it will be back on the stove with OIL (olive) and BUTTER (salt free) for me.

By jct

September 11, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

I stopped using microwave popcorn about 5 years ago. I knew nothing about this chemical; I was just concerned with the ingredients of microwave popcorn. Most in my family are lactose intolerant and there are tons of milk derivatives in microwave popcorn that upset our tummies. I also make a concerted effort to decrease the amount of chemicals that we eat by easting whole foods instead of processed foods.

A trick I have learned with air popped popcorn is to spray lightly wiht Pam or Butter Buds, etc. before adding the seasoning. That way the seasoning sticks to the popcorn.

By Susan

September 11, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

As I’m sitting here at work reading this blog, I remembered that I have some microwave popcorn bags in my desk that I eat as a snack. I picked up the box and it’s disheartening that the ingredients are listed only as “corn, palm oil, salt, and less than 2% of: butter, natural and artificial flavor, color added, freshness preserved with TBHQ and citric acid.”

How are we supposed to know what we’re eating if the companies don’t disclose it? I don’t know whether this product contains diacetyl or not.

I do feel, though, that eating microwave popcorn in moderation won’t hurt you. Anything in extremes can hurt you. Having someone light up a cigarette in front of you once likely won’t cause harm. But having that happen over and over would.

By Marilyn Goodson

September 11, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this

What is so amazing is the fact that more information is given on Michael Vick then about the harmful affects of microwave popcorn. I need much more info. For instance, is it harmful eating microwave popcorn without butter? Should you not linger in the same room that microwave popcorn is being popped? Are the manufacturers re-making popcorn. Should you discard all previous packages? I recently heard this on TV news. It was covered by reporters for only 1 minute. However, Vick was talked about for 20 minutes everyday for 2 weeks straight. I would like to see the news become the news again. Stop wasting so much time reporting things that does not qualify as news. When people are affected by something, that’s the news not Brittany Spears, Nicole Simpson and Vick. COMMENTS PLEASE

By DJ

September 11, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure why anyone is surprised - first of all, the regulatory agencies, while tasked with protecting the public, clearly spend more of their effort protecting big business. Cynical? no - reality. But more obviously, my question would be why anyone would eat the fake butter-flavored popcorn - all you need to do is be in the room one time while it’s cooking in the microwave to smell the disgusting and clearly artificial smell that permeates the room. It is beyond gross, and doesn’t smell like anything that would be remotely considered “food”. Why on earth would you put that in your body? Are you washing it down with a glass of anti-freeze? it would be about the same. GROSS.

By John

September 11, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

DJ is clearly right, consumers are idiots to eat the stuff, but that doesn’t compare with the evil of the companies who put it there, exposing their workers to it. Was there a clause in the work contract pointing out the EPA study? Or a warning on the package? This is symptomatic of the total disregard these corporate entities have for life. Profit is the only thing that matters and that principal squeezes out or squelches any individual within the structure who would take action that hurts profits. It’s the American way! The Capitalist way, to be accurate.

By Yummier

September 11, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

I never could stand microwaved popcorn. We’ve always popped it on the stove and added whatever suits us (butter, salt, cinnamon, sugar, etc). At least I know what’s in it when I’m done. And it’s a football/movie treat. Not something to be gulped down as lunch.

People have to stop eating processed foods and learn to cook again. That’s it! I’ve got a perfect idea for a new non-diet. I think I’ll publish it and make millions…just like all the other diet gurus out there.

By pop these

September 11, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the REAL info RN. I don’t eat microwave popcorn, but I’m sick of the media’s ALARMIST reaction to everything. Fear, fear, fear…

By Yo

September 11, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this

I heard about this two or three years ago when workers at one of these plants where the stuff is added to popcorn filled suit saying that it caused lung problems. I haven’t eaten microwave popcorn since. And I’m a popcorn junkie. I love the stuff! I now pop it either on the stove or in a brown paper bag with some oil in the microwave.

By Banks

September 11, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this

For those of you who say dont be alarmed,its only fear, I will still eat it….thats ludacris to me. The FDA and other regulatory agencies are all tied in together along with the healthcare industry which is a billion dollar industry in America. All of our health issues are coming from our diet….ie…diabetes…I work for a disease management company and I see more people with diabetes than ever before. It used to be primarily African Americans….now it transcends all races,ethnicities,nationalities, and ages. How could this be? Along with all other types of chronic illnesses. The very same way the FDA and the Popcorn industry got together to keep secret from us the info regarding diacetyl or whatever the hell it is called.

By Corsair

September 12, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this

The article says “The patient had eaten “several bags of extra-butter-flavored microwave popcorn” per day for several years, said the physician, Dr. Cecile Rose of the University of Colorado School of Medicine.” Anything consumed in excess like that will probably kill you and I don’t believe there is any problem with microwave popcorn when eaten in moderate amounts. This is just another example of media-induced panic and people wanting the government to save them from their own poor judgement.

By Lyne

September 12, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

My daughter consumes popcorn a few times a week as her snack. Our family has decided to use the old fashion popcorn maker when popcorn will be consumed due to this latest news. I’m not surprised big business didn’t take action until now to rectify this problem. They are only concerned with the “bucks” to be made and not the consumers health.