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An outbreak of a severe lung disease has occurred among workers exposed to artificial butter flavoring at factories producing microwave popcorn.

Click here to contact attorneys and lawyers for microwave popcorn and other snack industry workers with lung injuries.

 

News Article Excerpt
May 31, 2007
Orange Bulletin.com, "Buttery flavor might be harmful to your health"
          Bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe form of lung disease, causes shortness of breath, coughing and lung destruction. Although the disease is very rare, it has been affecting certain workers at an alarming rate. Workers exposed to the chemical, diacetyl, which imparts butter flavoring to foods and beverages, have been developing bronchiolitis obliterans far above that which would be expected. Concerns began centering on diacetyl after a cluster of bronchilotits obliterans was discovered among workers at a popcorn factory in the Midwest.
          Since that initial cluster, disease has been found among workers at other popcorn making facilities and in individuals who work in the flavoring industry. According to Dr. Richard Kanwal, a National Institute of Health scientist, "The rate of disease is striking ... that's enough to say this exposure is really bad." Diacetyl, which was introduced in the early 1980s, was deemed by the FDA to be a GRAS substance - generally recognized as safe. Since diacetyl was considered a safe substance, no testing needed to be done before it was introduced to the market.
          Veronica Castro, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said there was no evidence that diacetyl was hazardous. Although she admitted that there was no scientific data to support that information, she added, "The bottom line is it is assumed to be safe."
In truth, little is known about diacetyl. Animal studies, however, have documented that severe, often lethal, respiratory damage occurs from inhalation of diacetyl. Researchers are concerned that other industries may be at risk, as well. Diacetyl is used in many food processes to give a buttery flavor to: cookies/snacks, dairy products, beverages, frozen foods and candy/confections. Kanwal said, "If there is butter flavoring, there's almost certainly diacetyl in it."

Learn more about diacetyl butter flavoring dangers and lawsuits.

About Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, is one of the largest law firms in the nation that represents only plaintiffs. We have a team of personal injury lawyers, assisted by multiple nurses, scientific advisors and medical experts, dedicated to advancing our clients interests, including clients that have suffered permanent lung injuries. We are currently representing workers with "popcorn workers" lung disease.
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For the last five years, the National Law Journal has selected our firm as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the nation. We have represented thousands of persons in personal injury lawsuits across America, including residents of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. To learn about the competitive advantages we offer clients with personal injuries, please click here.
Lieff Cabraser attorneys provide legal advice and practice law for clients in federal courts throughout the United States and in state courts where we are licensed to practice.
In states where we are not licensed to practice, we have affiliations with local attorneys who serve as co-counsel with our firm, including attorneys throughout the midwest. For example, in Indiana, we are associated with the Indiana law firm of Cohen & Malad, LLP in this litigation. In Missouri, we are associated with attorney Kenneth B. McClain of the law firm Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C. Please read our disclaimer.

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Copyright © 2007 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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"Popcorn firms removing diacetyl linked to lung ailments in factory workers"
December 18, 2007, Associated Press

The nation's four biggest makers of microwave popcorn have removed a flavoring chemical linked to a lung ailment in popcorn plant workers from nearly all their products. The companies say all their microwave popcorn recipes should be changed by January. More...

To read more press articles on the Popcorn Lung litigation, click here.


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