FYI-'Flavoring additive puts professional cooks at risk'

16 years ago

Please share this with everyone you know who works in a restaurant or other food related service industry.

America's favorite breakfast is bacon and eggs -- and often it is cooked in a product that contains the same chemical that has damaged and destroyed the lungs of hundreds of popcorn and food-flavoring plant workers.

Occupational health specialists have said that repeated exposure to diacetyl has led to the deaths of at least three workers, destruction of the lungs of scores more and sickened hundreds of others who worked in plants that produce flavorings, microwave popcorn, candy, beverages, oils and other products.

"The diacetyl vapors from some of the products are released in such volume that they could pose a significant risk to professional cooks who stand over hot grills or skillets for hours and use large amounts of these butter substitutes, according to the analysis."

Hundreds of brands of cooking oils, butter substitutes and sprays use diacetyl to provide or enhance the flavor of butter.

A link that might be useful:

Flavoring additive puts professional cooks at risk

seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/344277_diacetyl21.html

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Comments (12)

gardenguru1950
16 years ago
Something I noticed in the article (thank you dreamgarden) is that diacetyl is in such products as "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, Brummel and Brown, Country Crock, Promise and Imperial."

When I cheffed at a restaurant, we had the phony stuff available to us but we always used 100% real butter (or oil) for cooking almost everything. Lucky us.

Joe
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Okay, that's kinda scary..Does that mean anything that is butter "flavored" is on the bad list too?

The Pam I use is regular not butter flavored..
My little one (7) eats more microwave popcorn than anyone I know...~cuz he loves popcorn and can do it himself....
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jclepine
16 years ago
That is very scary. I never understood why they say something is safe before they know for sure.

I use one that does not contain that stuff, Earth Balance, and their other product, Smart Balance, does not contain it and they make microwave popping corn.

That is so cute that your little one can make his own popped corn, Terri!!!
beanthere_dunthat
16 years ago
Not surprised in the least. Back in the dark ages when I was a line cook at some low end chains (hey, gotta pay college tuition somehow), I hated working breakfast shift because I usually left feeling nauseasted by the smells. People used to pick on my "morning sickness". All those places use butter flavored oil subs that gagged me just to open the containers, so standing over hot grills full of them for six hours at a time was no fun at all.
sharon_s
16 years ago
Dreamgarden, thanks for the article.

One thing I found interesting is that they say diacetyl is added to all unsalted butter, as a preservative.

Apparently they don't have to list it as an ingredient. My son's butter-flavored microwave popcorn just lists "butter flavor" as an ingredient. *sigh*
lyndaluu2
16 years ago
I just checked the Canola Oil cooking spray that I use the brand is Great Value and it only has canola oil, soy lecithin, water and propellant in it. I always turn on the oven fan when I spray it.
The micro popcorn doesn't say anything except natural and artificial flavoring...mum...

Linda
ritaotay
16 years ago
Eating anything is dangerous to your health... lol

For what it's worth....

Easy Microwave Popcorn

1 plain brown paper sandwich bag (10 1/2 x 5 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches)
1/4 cup unpopped popcorn
1 tbsp canola oil
Salt to taste
Measure out the popcorn in 1/4 cup measuring cup. Pour the measured oil right over the corn in the cup. Dump into the bag and fold the top about 1/2 inch 2 or 3 times. Place in the microwave with the folded side up and microwave on high about 4 minutes.

I usually use 2 teaspoons of oil and only use 1 teaspoon for any additional batches ( you have to use a new bag each time )... With my microwave it only takes about 2 minutes, you take it out as soon as it stops popping... I lay the bag on its side and place it on a paper towel.

Rita
sharon_s
16 years ago
rita,

Thanks for that recipe. I've been meaning to look for one as a sub for the prepackaged stuff. My 16 year old is addicted to microwave popcorn.
ritaotay
16 years ago
You are most welcome... Enjoy, the taste and the savings.. lol

Just make sure you keep the leftover un-popped corn in an air tight container... I haven't tried it with butter yet but I would guess you'd have to melt it first...

Rita
sharon_s
16 years ago
Left over popped corn? What a concept! Not gonna happen as long as Cam (my son) is in the house. ;-)
Terrapots
16 years ago
Thanks for the MW popcorn recipe, been meaning to buy a MW popcorn popper but always forget. Occasionally, we will do the popcorn on movie night or when grandkids are over.
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Thank you, we will try it. He much prefers stove popped since I started making it a month or so ago..
He just loves Popcorn though! LOL

FYI-'Flavoring additive puts professional cooks at risk'

Comments (12)

gardenguru1950

Terri_PacNW

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