Kernels of Claims Still Popping at Popcorn Plant
By Robert Warne - June 25, 2002It has been said that the invention of the microwave popcorn bag has meant more to mankind than the discovery of a galaxy of new stars. The powerful aroma of a freshly nuked bag of corn can permeate cubicle walls, enclosed offices and occupy 100 percent of the airspace in our homes. Although a bag of popcorn may not sound appealing, once popped everything changes. People are drawn to the smell; appetites are piqued as the scent produces potent Pavlovian reactions.
For all the good that microwave bags of popcorn represent, including annual sales averaging $240 million throughout the ’90s, there is a group of people that have been adversely affected by the production of microwave popcorn.
At least 30 former Gilster-Mary Lee employees who worked at a popcorn plant in Jasper, MO have a lethal irreversible lung disease and may all need new lungs.
It all began around Thanksgiving in 1999 when Jace Kentner, an attorney, visited his stepfather Hal Woods. He noticed that Woods had two and three inch chunks of skin peeling off his hands and feet, like he was a leper. He recognized that there was something more to his stepfather’s condition than just a bad case of dry skin. Kentner believed that his stepfather’s problems were linked to his employment and decided to represent Woods in a workers’ compensation suit against the Gilster.
As Kentner prepared the case, Gilster employees came out of the woodwork with tales related to undiagnosed illnesses they believed were caused from the plant. After connecting all the claims he was faced with a bigger case than he could handle alone and needed to pull in a larger firm.
A doctor in the spring of 2000 was finally able to diagnose the respiratory condition that plagued at least six of the employees. Dr. Allen Parmet from the Midwest Occupational Medicine in Kansas City, MO diagnosed the disease as bronchiolitis obliterans. This was a condition he’d only seen three times in his career.
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through their investigation narrowed the source of the disease down to the artificial butter flavoring for the popcorn.
Their conclusion thus far is that those who eat microwave popcorn aren’t at risk. The respiratory disease and other undesirable effects occurred only in cases where employees were exposed to the fumes of the artificial flavoring for a prolonged period of time when it was mixed with other ingredients.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted tests on rats. The results pointed to an ingredient called diacetyl, which occurs naturally in butter, coffee and cheese. Similar butter mixtures that contain diacetyl are also used in the production of some candies and baked goods.
The CDC wants doctors to report any respiratory cases that may be linked to exposure to food flavorings.
There is a class action lawsuit pending against International Flavors & Fragrances (IIF) the manufacturer of the artificial butter flavoring. IFF is the world's leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances.
And there are workers’ compensation claims against Gilster.
It is still too early to tell if this is just an isolated epidemic or if buttered batch of claims will continue to pop up across the country. Similar claims are being investigated in five other states. | 
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