The price of microwave popcorn is about to go up

[DBear]

from USA Today

Popcorn worker awarded $20M in lung damage lawsuit

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A factory worker who claimed his lungs were ruined as a result of mixing flavoring oils used in microwave popcorn was awarded $20 million by a jury Monday.
Eric Peoples was the first of 30 former workers at the Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. plant in Jasper to have his suit heard against the two makers of the butter flavoring. Following a morning of closing arguments, the jury deliberated for a little more than three hours before returning the verdict.

"We're relieved that it's over and our lives can get back to as normal as they can be," Eric Peoples said. "At least for now, we'll be able to spoil our children and let them forget for a while."
Trial testimony showed if Peoples' health remains stable, he could wait at least 10 years for a needed double-lung transplant; life expectancy of a lung transplant recipient is about 10 years.

The attorneys for the manufacturers left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health also has linked exposure to vapors from butter flavoring to lung disease in popcorn factory workers Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska.
Peoples' attorney, Ken McClain, said his next case in Jasper County is set for April 20. He also has cases pending in Illinois and Iowa.
"I want to keep the pressure up and get these cases done as soon as we can," McClain said.

Health officials insist people who microwave popcorn and eat it at home are not in danger, although the Environmental Protection Agency is studying the chemicals released into the air when a bag of microwave popcorn is popped.

During their closing, attorneys for the two corporations told jurors their product is safe when handled properly. Information sent to popcorn plant officials warned the flavoring should be mixed in a well ventilated area and a respirator should be worn when heating it.

Gilster-Mary Lee, which was not named in the suit, remodeled the plant after government investigators in 2001 linked a chemical in the butter flavoring, diacetyl, to the workers' illnesses. There have been no reports of illness since the ventilation was improved and workers began wearing respirators, Patton said.

Great, another damn food lawsuit. $20M will buy a lot of popcorn bags.

 

[Perfection]

*sigh* I guess I'll have to start hoarding that, too.

 

[Tassadar]

I already warned the CFC community about micro-wave cooking and its danger.

It do not only destroy nutritive component but the agro-industrious complex is playing the sorcerer's apprentice with their additive and mico-wave intercation.

As usual buisnessman listen $$$ not reason. Customer follow the fashion created by marketing.

 

[The Person]

Maybe if we didn't make such big cases out of such things other people wouldn't get the idea of doing the same...?

 

[DreadCthulhu]

Originally posted by Tassadar
I already warned the CFC community about micro-wave cooking and its danger.

It do not only destroy nutritive component but the agro-industrious complex is playing the sorcerer's apprentice with their additive and mico-wave intercation.

As usual buisnessman listen $$$ not reason. Customer follow the fashion created by marketing.

Oh No! They are trying to contaminate my precious bodily fluids!!!!

 

[WickedSmurf]

I don't even have a microwave so... Whatever.

 

[hawai_74]

Originally posted by WickedSmurf
I don't even have a microwave so... Whatever.

Me too. Actually, i hope that pop-corn is banned from the movie-theater, it stinks and make a lot of crackling noise around you when you try to stay in the movie

 

[stormbind]

I purchase conventional popcorn, or ready popped

 

[stormbind]

Originally posted by Tassadar
I already warned the CFC community about micro-wave cooking and its danger.

It do not only destroy nutritive component but the agro-industrious complex is playing the sorcerer's apprentice with their additive and mico-wave intercation.

Really? I have not heard this, tell me more...

 

[Perfection]

Originally posted by hawai_74
Me too. Actually, i hope that pop-corn is banned from the movie-theater, it stinks and make a lot of crackling noise around you when you try to stay in the movie

BASTARD!

I will fight you to the end of the Earth for trying to take away my popcorn, how else will I be able to cope with the amount of TRASH Hollywood is putting out?

 

[hawai_74]

Originally posted by Perfection
BASTARD!

you're talking to me,

Originally posted by Perfection

how else will I be able to cope with the amount of TRASH Hollywood is putting out?

... simple watch polish movies

 

[Pirate]

I wouldn't call this a frivolous lawsuit. It's not like he dropped scalding hot butter-flavored topping in his crotch.

Exposure to industrial chemicals where he worked gave him lung cancer and has reduced his future lifespan to less than 10 years. That's pretty darn serious.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

If it wasnt for the microwave oven, I would have died of hunger a long time ago. But I hate microwave popcorn. Its a bag of hot grease with some crunchy things swimming in it.

 

[Tassadar]

Originally posted by stormbind


Really? I have not heard this, tell me more...

At your service


Here is the old thread:http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66351&highlight=microwave


Edit, and the study,

Total flavonoid and individual hydroxycinnamoyl derivative (sinapic and caffeoyl-quinic acid derivative) contents were evaluated in the edible portions of freshly harvested broccoli (cv Marathon inflorescences) before and after cooking and in the cooking water. High-pressure boiling, low-pressure boiling (conventional), steaming and microwaving were the four domestic cooking processes used in this work. The predominant sinapic acid derivatives were identified as 1,2,2-trisinapoylgentiobiose and 1,2-disinapoyl-2-feruloylgentiobiose. In addition 1,2-diferuloylgentiobiose and 1-sinapoyl-2,2-diferuloylgentiobiose were also identified in broccoli inflorescences. The results showed large differences among the four treatments in their influence on flavonoid and hydroxycinnamoyl derivative contents in broccoli. Clear disadvantages were detected when broccoli was microwaved, namely high losses of flavonoids (97%), sinapic acid derivatives (74%) and caffeoyl-quinic acid derivatives (87%). Conventional boiling led to a significant loss of flavonoids (66%) from fresh raw broccoli, while high-pressure boiling caused considerable leaching (47%) of caffeoyl-quinic acid derivatives into the cooking water. On the other hand, steaming had minimal effects, in terms of loss, on both flavonoid and hydroxycinnamoyl derivative contents. Therefore we can conclude that a greater quantity of phenolic compounds will be provided by consumption of steamed broccoli as compared with broccoli prepared by other cooking processes. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry

 

[Pangur Bán]

I can't believe he got $20 Million. Ah...America

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Tassadar, few people actually cook their food with the microwave. Its mostly used to just warm things up.

 

[Tassadar]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
Tassadar, few people actually cook their food with the microwave. Its mostly used to just warm things up.

Warm thing at low power, yes i agree it is much safer. After all we dont want to become like this;:mutant: :mutant:

 

[IglooDame]

Originally posted by calgacus
I can't believe he got $20 Million. Ah...America

Don't believe it. I'm sure the lawyer got a healthy cut of it, and the IRS got another chunk, he's probably seeing less than half of it go into his checking account.

 

[IglooDame]

Originally posted by Tassadar


At your service


Here is the old thread:http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66351&highlight=microwave

There's more than a touch of irony in wanting to ban microwave ovens because they render food less healthy, at the same time your sig seems to advocate smoking pot.

 

[Tassadar]

Originally posted by IglooDude


There's more than a touch of irony in wanting to ban microwave ovens because they render food less healthy, at the same time your sig seems to advocate smoking pot.

but i dont micro-wave it