

Learn more about the healthiest cooking oils to use here.Ĭan you get microwave popcorn without chemicals?Īlthough there are a few brands of microwave popcorn that advertise that they’re free from PFOA liners in the bag, unfortunately with most store-bought shelf-stable microwave popcorn, you need some type of lining on the bag to keep the oil from seeping through. The healthiest oils to use with popcorn is avocado oil, coconut oil or ghee. Learn more about why these oils should be avoided here. Many microwave popcorn brands have hydrogenated oils which are a type of trans fat that are dangerous for your health… especially your heart and cholesterol.Īpart from that, even if the popcorn doesn’t have hydrogenated oil, it is likely to have soybean oil or canola oil in it, which is believed to contribute to inflammation and a host of other issues. TBHQ is often used with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and has a very similar chemical makeup.Īlthough no general consensus has been made on whether these compounds are completely safe or not, there have been some studies showing the potential risks of these additives.Īccording the the National Library of Medicine there are possible links to vision, lung and behavioral effects from TBHQ. One commonly used preservative in microwave popcorn is TBHQ (tert-butylhydroquinone) to prevent food from going rancid to extend the shelf life. Many brands of microwave popcorn use preservatives that are linked to certain health issues. PFCs break down into perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOC), a known carcinogen and has been linked to cancer according a 2017 United States Environmental Protection Agency report. The main offenders are perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) which are added to the inside of the microwave popcorn bag to keep grease from seeping through. One of the worst things about microwave popcorn are the chemicals in the bag that it comes in.

Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) in The Bag


In 2012, a Colorado man won a lawsuit against 3 microwave popcorn companies for damages caused by bronchiolitis obliterans contracted from regularly consuming microwave popcorn.ģ. Cecile Rose, a leading lung expert concluded that microwave popcorn was the reason for her patient’s lung disease. When a bag of microwave popcorn is heated, this causes the chemical diacetyl to vaporize, thus allowing consumers to breath in the chemical.ĭr. However, factory workers are not the only ones at risk for bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung). Most popcorn brands use an artificial butter flavoring in their microwave popcorn called diacetyl.Ĭertain studies found severe lung and respiratory issues connected to diacetyl, so much so that The Occupational Safety and Health Administration now recommends controlling exposure to protect factory workers who work around diacetyl. Reports of popcorn lung from additional factories were revealed later.Ģ. In extreme cases it can become life-threatening.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control, at least 8 factory workers in Missouri, who worked in popcorn factories developed this lung disease. Unfortunately, this disease is irreversible and can cause lung inflammation, scarring and even restricted airflow resulting in breathing trouble. The lung problems associated with the artificial butter flavoring (diacetyl) has afflicted enough people to even garner it’s own disease name– it’s called “popcorn lung” or bronchiolitis obliterans. Don’t worry though, there are healthier ways to enjoy popcorn! 5 Reasons to Avoid Microwave Popcorn: 1. Most people enjoy a nice bowl of popcorn when sitting down for a movie, but when you know how some of the ingredients might affect you, you may want to avoid it. Is microwave popcorn bad for you? If your health is important to you, you may want to think twice before consuming it regularly Below are a few reasons why.
