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Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Bush Administration Slow to Act on Diacetyl Exposure

Reg•Watch has frequently blogged about the butter-flavoring chemical diacetyl and the lung problems it causes in workers exposed to it (particularly in the microwave popcorn industry). The evidence of danger is overwhelming, yet federal agencies such as the Occupation Safety and Health Administration have been loath to act.

But what about diacetyl exposure for consumers? Are we at risk when we eat artificially flavored popcorn? Evidence of adverse health effects for consumers is less conclusive, and the Bush administration seems content on keeping it that way.

For more on this, read a post on The Pump Handle blog by public health expert Dr. David Michaels: "Popcorn Lung Coming to Your Kitchen? The FDA Doesn't Want to Know"