Man sues butter flavoring companies and microwave popcorn manufacturers
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Nov 04 2008 at 5:10 PM
Diacetyl >>

A consumer of microwave popcorn has filed a lawsuit against butter flavoring companies and microwave popcorn manufacturers. The suit was filed by a Florida based law firm on behalf of Elaine Khoury after he was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis obliterans (Popcorn Workers Lung).

Bronchiolitis obliterans is a devastating and sometimes fatal lung disease that can be caused by breathing microwave butter flavor. It occurs when the smallest airways of the lung become inflamed and scarred, resulting an obstruction of the airways. The chemical additive in the butter flavor is known as diacetyl. Diacetyl can damage and destroy the lungs. The major microwave popcorn companies have recently begun selling diacetyl-free microwave popcorn. However, the effects of replacement products are not known.

In 2004, Eric Peoples of Carthage, Missouri had won a $20 million dollar verdict in a popcorn lung case. Peoples and some of his co-workers from the Jasper popcorn plant in Jasper, Missouri, sued International Flavors and Fragrances after developing lung injuries. Two more verdicts were obtained before all the cases from the Jasper plant were settled.

Khoury’s case is the third known butter flavoring litigation filed by a consumer.

Comments