Bronchiolitis Obliterans Now Seen in Workers at Candy Factories

Investigative reporter Andrew Schneider has published an item on his blog about “popcorn lung” problems faced by workers in other industries, such as candy manufacturing, exposed to diacetyl, a butter-flavoring chemical. According to Schneider, five patients diagnosed with the sometimes-fatal lung disease worked at a now closed Brach’s candy plant in Chicago. While federal occupational health and safety inspectors cannot investigate conditions in a closed facility, International Brotherhood of Teamster’s officials are reportedly calling on them to inspect candy plants in Tennessee. The union is apparently concerned that workers outside the popcorn industry are also being exposed to disabling levels of diacetyl and are not aware of it.

Schneider also reports that a trial against flavoring manufacturers began on April 6, 2009, for claims involving a woman who allegedly developed bronchiolitis obliterans while working at a plant that produced popular brands of popcorn. A physician who was expected to be called as a witness at her trial was quoted as saying, “The cluster of new cases of bronchiolitis obliterans among candy makers has got to be the signal to even the most lethargic government agency that more workers—hundreds if not thousands—that use these chemical flavoring agents are in danger. I’d use the cliché and say it was a wakeup call, but that happened years ago at the popcorn plants and [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration] has yet to do anything meaningful.” See andrewschneiderinvestigates.com, April 6, 2009.