ConAgra Foods Inc., says it will change the recipe for its Orville Redenbacher and Act II brands over the next year to remove a flavoring chemical linked to a lung ailment in popcorn plant workers.
The decision comes a day after a doctor at a leading lung research hospital said in a warning letter to federal regulators that consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn.
Diacetyl has been linked to cases of a rare life-threatening disease often called popcorn lung.
ConAgra's announcement comes a week after another popcorn manufacturer, Weaver Popcorn of Indianapolis, said it would replace the butter flavoring ingredient because of consumer concern.
After measured levels of diacetyl in the man's home after he made popcorn and found levels of the chemical were similar to those in microwave popcorn plants Dr. Cecile Rose a pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center, asked the man to stop eating microwave popcorn.
Weaver Popcorn Company has already removed diacetyl from the flavoring in its microwave popcorn brands, Pop Weaver, sold at mass market retailers, discount retailers and select grocery stores nationwide; and Trail's End, sold through Boy Scout councils. People concerned about diacetyl have an option available in stores now.