Can Eating Microwave Popcorn Make You Sick?

After reading an article about microwave popcorn causing lung problems, I decided to research it futher and write my findings here. It’s true that there is an additive called diacetyl added to popcorn for artificial butter flavoring which can cause a serious lung condition, bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lung” when exposed to it over a long period of time.

Most people who acquired popcorn lung, worked in popcorn factories. One man, however, did develop the disease after reportedly eating microwave popcorn at home for over a decade. He consumed two bags per day. While most people don’t eat two bags of microwavable popcorn every day, and instead an occasional bag, it probably isn’t a great concern.

Further encouragement comes from popular microwave popcorn companies who either have already removed the chemical from their products or who have promised to do so in the near future, such as Orville Redenbacher, Act II, Pop Secret and Jolly Time.

It may be difficult to tell if the ingredient is on the label since it isn’t specifically identified. You may see something like “other natural” or “artifical flavors” that may or may not indicate whether the product contains diacetyl.

I also wonder how this ingredient affects children or unborn babies. Since my children are still young, we will try Jolly Time Healthy Pop Butter popcorn for our snack time, which is 94% fat free, has 0g trans fat, and has no diacetyl added.