Jury Clears Flavorings Company in Consumer’s Diacetyl Lawsuit

A jury in an Iowa federal court has reportedly determined that International
Flavors and Fragrances Inc. (IFF) was not liable for the lung condition a man
allegedly developed from microwaving popcorn containing diacetyl, a butter
flavoring ingredient used in the product. Stults v. Int’l Flavors & Fragrances
Inc., No. 11-4077 (U.S. Dist. Ct., N.D. Iowa, verdict entered August 19, 2014).
The plaintiff claimed that the company had breached the implied warranty
of fitness for its butter flavoring, which had a foreseeable use in microwave
popcorn packages. IFF was the only remaining defendant during the seven-day
trial out of some half-dozen companies originally sued for $27 million in
compensatory damages. See Law360, August 20, 2014.

Issue 535