The average American eats nearly 15 gallons of popcorn a year, but now the production of our favorite snack food is at the center of a national health controversy. Labor unions and prominent occupational health scientists are calling on federal regulators
One of America’s favorite snack foods – popcorn – is at the center of a national health controversy. The chemical diacetyl, used to make artificial butter flavoring, has been linked to a respiratory disease called “popcorn lung” in hundreds of people. Labor unions and prominent occupational health scientists are calling on federal authorities to set an emergency standard for the chemical in the workplace. Living on Earth host Bruce Gellerman has our report.