Microwave Popcorn May Lead to Health Problems

You may be tempted to rid your pantry of microwave popcorn. A recent study reveals that a chemical used in the packaging of one of America’s favorite snacks may lead to serious health problems, according to a recent AARP blog post.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is found in the lining of microwave popcorn bags. PFOA is a member of a group of chemicals called perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) – used in everything from pizza boxes to Teflon cookware -- known to cause testicular, liver, and pancreatic cancer in animals. PFCs are detectable in the blood of 95 percent of Americans.

A study published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested these compounds may prevent certain childhood vaccinations from working. An earlier study found they may also reduce fertility in women.

Another chemical used in microwave popcorn also set off alarm among snack lovers. The artificial butter flavoring diatcetyl is linked to a rare lung disease called “popcorn lung” among workers at factories that make microwave popcorn.

Most popcorn manufacturers removed diatcetyl from their products, but replaced it with other artificial flavorings that some government scientists say are just as dangerous.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to dangerous chemicals, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation