Buttered popcorn lung disease fears

CONSUMERS may be in danger from fumes from butter flavouring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to US regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital.

A pulmonary specialist at Denver’s National Jewish Medical and Research Centre has written to federal agencies to say doctors there believe they have the first case of a consumer who developed lung disease from the fumes of microwaving popcorn several times a day for years.

“We cannot be sure that this patient’s exposure to butter-flavoured microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease,” cautioned Dr Cecile Rose. “However, we have no other plausible explanation.”