The Toxicity of Butter Flavoring
Breathing the vapors released when mixing butter flavoring or inhaling fumes or dusts containing the flavor chemical diacetyl has been demonstrated to cause lung disease in lab animals and human studies. The disease inflames the lungs, causing scarring and hardening of the tissue. This in turn ultimately leads to obstruction of the airways although restriction has also been found. The illness has put several victims on the lung transplant list.
A track record of success
At our Independence, Missouri, law firm, we have handled most of the Flavoring-Related lung disease cases filed in the United States. We have obtained significant settlements and verdicts for our clients—resources that will allow them to undergo a much-needed lung transplant. If you have been exposed to butter flavoring and have the symptoms of Flavoring-Related lung disease, or popcorn lung workers lung, contact us at Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C., toll free at (877)436-3692 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Persuasive evidence about Flavoring-Related lung disease found by NIOSH
The federal agency National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted an extensive investigation of this hazard including health hazard evaluations at many microwave popcorn plants, food flavoring manufacturing plants, a bakery mix production plant, office building cafeterias, a cream cheese manufacturing plant, a snack food production plant, and a coffee production plant.
Although the exact mechanism of the disease is not clear, it is certain that breathing the vapors and dust that result from mixing butter flavoring before adding it to microwave popcorn or other food products can cause bronchiolitis obliterans. Tests conducted by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) collected air samples at a number of popcorn factories, where it was found that levels of Diacetyl, a known eye, skin and respiratory system irritant, were significantly higher than in the control samples. The toxicity of airborne butter flavoring is generally accepted.
If you work in a food or food flavoring manufacturing plant and have developed respiratory problems, contact an attorney right away to learn about lung disease caused by butter flavoring and other food flavor chemicals. At Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C., we handle most of the Flavoring-Related workers lung cases in the United States. You can rely on our knowledge and support as we move your case forward.
Free initial consultation. Call toll-free today at (877)436-3692