Always Listen to the Simmer

A few weeks back, our intrepid reporter Edouble told you about the joy and simplicity of popping your own stovetop popcorn. And I quote:

“I must insist that you stop buying microwave popcorn and that you start popping it yourself on your stovetop…This literally takes all of four or five minutes to do.”

Easy enough, right? But did you listen to Edouble? Nooooo. You kept popping your cute little bags of Orvile Redenbacher, and now this man is dead.

OK, not dead, but stricken with a nasty case of ‘pocorn lung.’

“A Colorado aficionado of microwaved popcorn, one of the most popular types, may have developed a serious lung condition from inhaling the fumes emanating from the just-popped bag…the suspected culprit is diacetyl, which adds buttery flavor to microwave brands such as Orville Redenbacher and Act II. For 10 years, the ill man ate two bags a day and savored the aroma of the steam before diving in. Until now, the government and industry watchdogs have been concerned only about cases of what is called “popcorn lung” among popcorn plant workers exposed to synthetic butter. It has been linked to damaged lungs. But no one worried about the effects on the consumer.”

So please, people, listen to what ES has to tell you. Today it’s popcorn lung, but tomorrow you could be choking on pre-made piecrust, or suffering from avocado deficiency syndrome.

Photo: AP