There's nothing better than settling in with a DVD and a bag of popcorn after a long day in the sun. It's a wholesome summertime tradition, right?

Not quite. As more is learned about the chemical diacetyl--found in popcorn's artificial butter flavoring--there's cause for concern. In fact, Popcorn Workers Lung has been appearing in factory workers exposed to the chemical.

Diacetyl has scarred their lungs so badly, it is difficult for them to breathe. Investigators believe that the problem arises when diacetyl is heated. Begging the question, can heating it in the microwave cause the same effect? While no evidence has linked microwaving popcorn to the health condition, the risk is poorly understood.

Erring on the side of caution, what can you do to avoid the dangerous side of this classic, salty treat? It's simple. Avoid the artificially buttered version and make your own. Melt some oil or butter in a deep pan on the stovetop, toss in some popcorn kernels and place the lid on top. Next, shake the pan and wait for the popcorn to starting popping. Once the popping noise has subsided, simply remove the pan from the heat. Salt and butter to taste, and enjoy!

Home cooking not your thing? Check out one of the popcorn specialty stores popping up throughout the city, like Chicago Popcorn Works in Lakeview. Not only is their popcorn air-popped, but it's free of hydrogenated oils, transfatty acids and preservatives. Best of all, if you order salt and butter popcorn, they'll make it on the spot--with real butter of course.


For more information on the dangers of microwavable popcorn, check out this story in the Washington Post.
To learn more about Chicago Popcorn Works, visit chicagopopcornworks.com.

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