Microwave Popcorn Safety Concerns

Posted on October 8, 2018
by emmaonugha

Eat healthy popcorn

Is microwave popcorn a healthy popcorn?

Microwave popcorn is popularly known as movie popcorn, a name it assumed for being a ritual part of watching movies. But is microwave popcorn really safe for consumption?

You may have been one of those that eat a lot of popcorn when watching movies. However, many questions have arisen as to the safety of microwave popcorn. You probably have heard that it may not be safe.

The perception which has gained traction over time is that microwave popcorn contains chemicals that may increase cancer risk. It is said to be associated with lung cancer and certain other cancers.

Two safety issues with many brands of microwave popcorn

The use of diacetyl chemical to give microwave popcorn its butter flavor and aroma

Diacetyl is associated with bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare lung disease. It is also called popcorn worker’s lung because it was found in workers at popcorn factories. Bronchiolitis obliterans destroys the lungs completely. It is only cured with lung transplant.

Diacetyl damages the lungs when inhaled in vaporized form over time. A consumer was affected after a prolonged exposure to diacetyl in butter flavor for more than 10 years.

He ate two bags of butter-flavored microwave popcorn daily. But worse still, he inhaled the buttery fumes every time he opened the popcorn bags.

As a result of the concerns concerning diacetyl use in artificial butter flavor, most manufacturers removed it from their products.

It was reported that the ingredient that replaced diacetyl could be as dangerous. In some quarters, it is believed that diacetyl free popcorn is not any different from the old one. For this reason, microwave popcorn should be avoided.

Who is at great risk of diacetyl and how?

It is important to note that workers in the popcorn factories, not consumers, are at great risk of diacetyl hazard. Also, Diacetyl does not cause damage when eaten. Lung damage occurs when it is inhaled.

The use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to line microwave popcorn bags

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PFOA, also known as C8 is used in lining popcorn bags. It is also used in Teflon pans or pots, pizza boxes and other stick- and stain-resistant materials.

C8 Science Panel comprising researchers examined the impact of PFOA exposure on West Virginia residents living near DuPont’s manufacturing plant.

This plant was releasing PFOA into the environment since the 1950s.

The findings of the C8 panel’s research showed an association between PFOA exposure and certain health conditions including testicular and kidney cancers.

The FDA reviewed the effects of PFOA from sources like nonstick food pans and microwave popcorn bags, and found that microwave popcorn was responsible for over 20% of PFOA in the blood of Americans.

U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared PFOA as a possible carcinogen in June 2005, following the findings of its scientific advisory panel. It is also linked to infertility.

EPA did not at the time state that the products made with it posed any cancer risk to humans. However, animal studies found four types of tumors in mice and rats exposed to PFOA. So, PFOA has been found to cause birth defects and cancer in animals.

An agreement was reached in 2009 between EPA and eight U.S companies to remove PFOA from their products by 2015. In addition, they agreed to reduce manufacturing emissions by 95%.

Scientists are yet to establish a connection between cancer risk in humans, microwave popcorn bags and other PFOA-containing products.

Does microwave popcorn contain harmful chemicals?

Microwave popcorn does not contain chemicals that cause lung cancer.

A chemical used to coat the inside of the popcorn bags may decompose when heated, producing PFOA. The chemical makes its way into the popcorn.

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Therefore, when you eat popcorn, the chemical gets into your blood stream and remains there for a long time.

It is this chemical that is linked to increased risk of liver and prostate cancer. Diacetyl chemical, on the other hand, causes irritation of the small airways. This results in scarring of the airways leading to wheezing and difficult breathing.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended further studies to establish possible link between diacetyl and lung disease. This will help reduce risk of popcorn workers lung.

Also, the Food and Drug Administration made efforts to establish if there is a link between consumers’ diacetyl inhalation and lung disease development.

About 98% of Americans have PFOA in their blood as they widely use perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) commonly found in food packaging. For emphasis, these compounds are also found in sandwich wrappers, Teflon pans/pots and pizza boxers, among others.

The ban on use of PFOA remains but is microwave popcorn safe?

The popcorn manufacturers had since stopped using PFOA in product bags. In 2016, the FDA banned the use of other PFCs in food packaging.

It is therefore believed that today’s popcorn should not contain these chemicals.

However, it has been found that popcorn manufacturers have introduced new packaging chemicals. Environmental Working Group has questioned the safety of these chemicals.

Some popular popcorn brands contain unhealthy ingredients

Some popcorn flavors contain genetically modified and untested ingredients linked to many health issues.

First off, do all the brands use organic corn? The answer is No! Then, they may contain harmful pesticides.

Some brands still use trans fat which is associated with heart attacks and deaths. Also, propyl gallate is used as a preservative in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food. It is linked to health issues including breathing problems, skin rashes and stomach issues.

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Also, Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is made from butane, a toxic gas used as a preservative. The recommended limit of use is 0.02% of the total oil in a product.

Eating 1g of TBHQ may cause allergies, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, dizziness and dermatitis. It has been found to cause stomach cancer in laboratory animals.

But note that eating at fast food restaurants and consumption of processed foods may expose you to an accumulated overload of chemicals and preservatives.

More studies are required to assess the effects of accumulated toxic chemicals and preservatives in humans.

You can check the ingredient labels on the microwave popcorn and note these ingredients – artificial flavors and natural flavors.

Eat microwave popcorn with no harmful chemicals

What do these flavors really contain? You have no way of knowing!

It is very likely beaver’s anal glands, diacetyl butter flavors and MonoSodium Glutamate are hidden in those bogus titles?

Artificial butter flavor may be toxic and should be avoided. For example, Conagra Foods have removed it from their microwave popcorn because it causes lung disease. Artificial butter flavor is also linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

The label on Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn explicitly states that diacetyl flavor is not used anymore.

Consider any popcorn variety with artificial flavor on its label as containing diacetyl until proven otherwise.

How do you reduce your risk?

If you are worried but do not want to give up eating popcorn, then make your own popcorn.

It is easy to make and it takes about 5 minutes. Doing so makes you avoid health pitfalls associated with microwave popcorn.

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You can use these three amazing ingredients to prepare healthy popcorn: coconut oil which is good for metabolism, hemp seeds that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and red palm oil rich in vitamins A and E.

You can make popcorn in advance, put it in a bag and take to your office or movie theatre.