Jury Awards “Popcorn Lung” Man $7 Million

A Colorado man was awarded $7.2 million in federal court in the first “popcorn lung” trial involving a consumer whose frequent microwave popcorn habit led to his diagnosis with the life-threatening disease.

Reuters reports that after deliberating for a day, the jury found popcorn manufacturer Glister-Mary Lee 80 percent liable for damages in the case, and King Soopers, its parent company Kroger Co., and Dillons Food Stores to be 20 percent liable.

“Popcorn lung,” or bronchiolitis obliterans, is an irreversible illness that causes airways to the lungs to become clogged with tissue. It is associated with diacetyl, a chemical flavoring used to make foods smell and taste buttery. Cases of the disease previously occurred in workers in microwave popcorn plants and flavoring production plants.

Plaintiff Wayne Watson was diagnosed in 2007 with “popcorn lung” that he claims resulted from years of inhaling the scent of the artificial butter used in microwave popcorn. Watson claims to have eaten microwave popcorn every day that he purchased from King Soopers.

The jury found the supermarket chain and the popcorn maker acted negligently for their failure to warn about the dangers of diacetyl on the product’s label, according to Reuters. Kroger says it will appeal the decision.

If you or someone you know suffered harm from an unsafe food product, contact Sokolove Law for a free consultation and to find out if a product liability lawyer may be able to help you.

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