Foods Containing Diacetyl Pose Threat to Consumers
Jordan Terry- September 26, 2017 @ 2:02 pm
- Uncategorized
Jordan Terry
September 26, 2017 @ 2:02 pm
Uncategorized
Diacetyl is an organic compound found in foods and additives that are used for dairy flavoring. Diacetyl is also found in brown flavors, such as caramel, butterscotch, and other sweeteners. Foods containing diacetyl can be found in a variety of products but is most commonly associated with popcorn because of the substance’s connection to “popcorn-lung” — Bronchiolitis obliterans. While diacetyl can be found naturally in some foods, it is most common in processed food products that contain flavoring additives.
Common Foods Containing Diacetyl
Diacetyl is most prevalent in processed foods that contain butter flavoring. It is used as a flavoring agent in butter, butter sprays, margarine, shortening, oil, oil sprays and other butter-flavored substances. If a product is advertised as having “buttery flavor,” then that product likely contains diacetyl. These products commonly include:
- Popcorn
- Potato chips
- Crackers
- Corn chips
Diacetyl is also used as a brown flavor sweetening additive in products such as:
- Chocolate
- Cookies
- Cocoa-flavor products
- Gelatin
- Candy
- Flour mixes
- Syrup with flavoring
- Frostings
- Chewing gum
- Ice cream
- Soft drinks
- Sauces
Along with processed foods, diacetyl occurs naturally in some foods and beverages. Foods containing diacetyl that occurs naturally include:
- Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and butter
- Beer and wine – found in the fermentation of alcohol
- Honey and most fruits
- Coffee, coffee beans, coffee grounds which has been linked to Coffee Worker Lung Disease
- Animal foods
Are Food Containing Diacetyl Safe to Consume?
Diacetyl poses a greater risk of toxicity when it is heated. The likelihood of adverse health risks associated with diacetyl – such as popcorn lung — is therefore increased if a product is heated prior to consumption. Foods and beverages containing diacetyl are not inherently dangerous to consume if they are not heated. It is important to note, however, that heating products containing diacetyl trigger a chemical reaction that releases the dangerous compound into the air as a more dangerous vaporous form. While consuming diacetyl is not a major health risk, inhaling diacetyl vapors can be very dangerous. This poses a great threat to users of Juul and other e-cigarettes. Diacetyl vapor inhalation is linked to an array of pulmonary complications, including popcorn lung. If you are heating a product that contains diacetyl — such as microwave popcorn, coffee, hot-cocoa – ensure that the product has cooled down before consuming it. Distance yourself from the product while it is heating up, and avoid prolonged exposure to diacetyl vapors.
About popcorn, is it all popcorn or is it popcorn that has added flavoring? I make popcorn a couple of times a week, and I will add a cajun seasoning and turmeric. No butter ever
Rodney, it is popcorn with added flavoring.
Is there anything worth eating that does not contain diacetyl? Why do these products not contain warnings? The FDA is supposed to warn about harmful food products
The FDA collects and evaluates products based on the reports they receive from consumers and doctors. The best thing you can do in this type of situation is to report any adverse side effects. More information can be found on our blog: Report an Injury or Side Effect.
Just read an article regarding DIPCETYL (buttery flavoring). It effects you memory!
I read that it’s not just memory – it can add to the chance of Alzheimer’s disease. Microwave popcorn seems to be extremely toxic. As per WebMD.
If you are reading this because you are “pro vaping” then what you are saying is your bad thing you do to your body is less bad than smoking. So we both agree vaping is a bad thing to do and, in conclusion, you are making poor life decisions and should quit vaping today.
In twenty years ago there are going to be pictures of you holding some lame outdated smoking device that you will be embarrassed that you ever held in your hand.
Are there any coffees, beer or wines that do not contain Diacetyl? And what’s the difference between Diacetyl and dipcetyl?
I am not sure that we are familiar with “dipcetyl”. Do you possibly mean “acetyl” or “acetyl propionyl”, Cynthia?
Are there any coffees, beers, etc. that don’t contain diacetyl?
Almost all coffees & beers contain at least some level of diacetyl. During consumption, this diacetyl is harmless. The heated diacetyl vapors, often released during beverage making and preparation, are what pose a threat to consumers. If you are just drinking a beer, you aren’t at risk. However, if you are brewing your own beer, you may want to check diacetyl levels and be sure to have proper protection (ventilation and facemasks). The same can be said for coffee – if you are consuming coffee, even while hot, you are at a minimum risk for diacetyl exposure. If you are roasting your own coffee beans, you are likely at risk and should take precautions.
Are you open to face to face consultation/ conversation and fill forms in office
Jannette, normally we are open to in-person consultations. Given the ongoing current events, we are trying to do our part in minimizing social interactions and encouraging social distancing by limiting most client interactions to phone-calls and emails. Under special circumstances, we may be able to schedule a face-to-face consultation. We will reach out via the email that you have provided.
What about cheeses
Is consuming grilled cheese ok, or is that to much heat on the cheese?
C – Consuming these products is safe. The manufacturing and cooking of these foods puts individuals at the most risk. Generally, mass production is the most dangerous while cooking for oneself won’t put you at a big risk. So, if you are cooking yourself a grilled cheese to have for lunch, you are fine. If you work in a plant that produces cheese or you work at a company that mass produces grilled cheese, you could be at risk.
Thankyou for information, my body is going through some changes. And I am trying to find out what changed in my habits that maybe made things change. I am a strong believer in the things we put our bodies through makes a huge difference. So thanks for helping me stay healthy.
I make my own kefir with whole milk. With my own grains. Am I putting myself at risk, with the diacetyl exposure? I’ve read there’s only small amounts and beverage is consumed cold. Thank you.
Diacetyl exists in many foods, even natural foods such as certain grains. When those foods are heated during the production process it can release differing levels of dangerous vaporized diacetyl into the air. Generally, these vaporized gases begin to pose a threat in mass production settings and not so much so for individuals making their own food or beverages. However, there have been documented cases of individuals that suffered injury due to diacetyl vapor exposure in a non-mass production setting – for example, a video store clerk suffered lung injury as a result of his daily task of having to heat up buttered popcorn. If you are making kefir, you should not worry too much. But, we would encourage you to wear a respiratory protection device is that process requires you to heat any of the ingredients to produce the kefir. It’s a simple protective measure that will keep you safe from any exposure.
Does diacetyl affect the brain ultimately contributing to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease? Others have asked; tgeir questions were not answered.
Grace – while we would like to give you a definitive answer on this, our efforts thus far have been primarily focused on the science of diacetyl vapor’s effect on the human respiratory system. We will absolutely begin to research the question that you have presented and hopefully, we can find an answer for you.
Diacetyl can be listed as “natural flavoring” . How can you know in an ingredient’s list what these “natural flavorings” are?
This is an issue that has been pressed before. Because diacetyl is naturally occurring in many foods, it does not fall under the “added ingredients” list on some labels. However, diacetyl is added to other foods in order to give them a smokey or buttery flavor – when this is the case, diacetyl can be found on the “added ingredients” list of the label. For foods that contain natural diacetyl, best practice is to familarize yourself with the foods so that you are aware of which types of foods contain diacetly naturally. We suggest scientific and peer-reviewed literature.
Would working at a coffee shop making espresso drinks be an unhealthy exposure to diacetyl?
Generally not, Susan. Depending on the length of employment and exposure to vapors, a coffee barista runs at least a minimal risk of inhaling vaporized diacetyl. However, the greatest risk is to individuals who work in roasting facilities, where the coffee beans are heated. If you do notice that you are having difficulty breathing, you should consult your primary care physician and make sure that they are aware of your profession. It is unlikely that you develop lung damage from making coffee drinks, but it isn’t completely out of the question.
Thank you for your work on diacetyl. Can you verify whether it crosses the blood brain barrier and contributes to amyloid plaque in the brain?
Hello, Karl! There are a number of articles that have been published which discuss the causal relationship between diacetyl exposure and Alzheimer’s. While we do not actively try diacetyl cases where the primary injury is Alzheimer’s, we respect the the scientific research discussed in those articles, which indicates that there could be a causal relationship.
You mention it is in gelatin.. Is it the powdered like Knox?
I drink a lot of flavored selzer with natural flavorings and no added sugar. Is there diacetyl in these drinks? And is it safe to drink?
These drinks are very likely to be safe. Diacetyl is only harmful in its vaporized state, so the food must be heated in order to be potentially harmful.
Sorry but I have a few questions.Is it safe to get a hot cup of coffee at a restaurant,or brew one in my Keurig? Can I eat my favorite muenster cheese or provolone on a sandwich and be safe? Is it in 2% milk? I looked at the ingredients on my cheese packages and lunch meat.It doesn’t show diacetyl on it.Is there a place to get a list with all items with this in it and is there a list of safe things to eat?
Your exposure to diacetyl vapor, which can cause popcorn lung, is very low when consuming these products. Individuals who are involved in the production of these products are at a risk or respiratory injury, if they are not using proper protective equipment. Consumers are generally not at risk, unless they are very frequently heating products that contain diacetyl.
Do you know the difference in quantity of Diacetyl between butter and Earth Balance fake butter?
Without filing litigation against manufacturers, it is difficult to determine the exact quantity of diacetyl in a product. We are able to access this information through the discovery phase of a lawsuit.
Does regular butter contains dyacetil? Is cooking with butter exposing me to unnecessary risks? Thanks,
Diacetyl is found naturally in butter.The trace amounts that you may be exposed to during the cooking process would likely not put you at risk of popcorn lung. However, we encourage using proper ventilation while cooking. If you cook with a large amount of butter on a very regular basis, you may want to take extra precaution to ensure that you are not at risk.
I’m at a loss here of the “fine line” of exposure. So when people in factories heat coffee bean then they are exposed to the diacetyl vapor. Does that include consumers at home, who grind store bought (including organic) coffee beans then brew their own coffee?
I buy as much organic produce and products as I can. Which leads me to dairy. I purchase Horizon brands and also cheeses from Ireland, Scotland. I do not purchase Kraft or any other processed cheese. Am I at still at risk of diacetyl exposure?
Thank you, for your help.
Jill, sorry that we are unable to further articulate where that line is drawn. The problem is, it is difficult to say with certainty whether an individual is at risk unless we are able to properly document their exposure levels and lung functionality. For exposure to to pose a risk, the product containing diacetyl must be heated to a certain degree. Generally, only those exposed to high concentrations of vaporized diacetyl over longer periods of time are at risk of the adverse health effects associated with the chemical. This is why we see a much higher prevalence of lung injury in coffee roasters who are surrounded by large quantities of the vapor for 8 hours or more a day.
What about the fragrance vapor misters many homes use without thinking it could be related to respiratory difficulties? Is this enzyme released when using these fragrance mist devices?
We are unaware of the presence of diacetyl in misting fragrance devices, but we will be sure to have our research team look into it further.
Dialy i drink one cup of milk and cheese also I want to know if this dangerous for me ..
One more question Turkish coffee beans also has Diacetyl.
Thanks
Mohamad Saleh Saleh
Consuming products containing diacetyl does not pose risk to a consumer’s respiratory system. Many dairy products contain natural diacetyl, which is generally thought of as safe for consumption. Products containing diacetyl that are heated, causing it to transition to it’s vaporized form, can pose a threat to consumer’s respiratory systems if exposed at high levels or over long periods of time. While we cannot say with certainty that all Turkish beans contain diacetyl, it is likely. You should be fine if you are making/consuming Turkish coffee at a consumer level.
Are gelatin products like Knox or others toxic. Do they contain diacetyl. I make gelatine desserts with Knox unflavored gelatin and cooked berries
Very fascinating information. Thanks for providing it. I have only two questions. 1. Is microwave popcorn that is labeled, “natural”, i.e. without butter safe? 2. I am vegan, and just found a “fake” cheese called CHAO. It is yummy. I eat it cold. Would it be considered safe? Thanks.
Hello, Jeanne. Glad you enjoyed the content. To answer your questions, yes, neither pose risk to your respiratory system.
PLS ADVISE WHAT YOU CAN EAT SAFELY. ACCORDINGLY IT APPEARS ALL ALCOHOL (WHICH I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT), COFFEE, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE NO NO’S, ALONG WITH CHIPS AND MOST FRUIT. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT BUT PEANUTS AND WATER!
All foods containing naturally occurring diacetyl & diacetyl additives are safe for consumption, to our knowledge. These products are only potentially harmful when they are heated, releasing vaporized diacetyl that is known to be harmful if inhaled. You are fine to consume these products. Just take precaution when heating them. We recommend proper kitchen ventilation and, if exposed to high quantities of products containing diacetyl that are being heated, wearing PPE.
Is skinny pop popcorn have it? You don’t have to heat it and not flavored
Although some skinny pop popcorn may contain diacetyl, the fact that you do not have to heat it means that it does not pose any sort of risk of respiratory injury.
just FYI – it’s not a normal ingredient in vaping. Just FYI,, if you are a smoker, vaping is a good way to quit smoking.
Black market vapes have this icky ingredient, but it’s not an ingredient in regular vapes or even THC vapes – you’ve got to watch more than the news – it’s full of lies &1/2 truths.
Another FYI, cigarettes don’t pollute, cars do – stand in a room w/10 smokers – get a headache. Stand in a room with a running car without ventilation – you die – see the difference?
Diacetyl is a commonly-occurring chemical in a range of vaping products in both the open market as well as black market products. The FDA has not approved any vaping product as a cigarette cessation device. A multitude of peer-reviewed research has proven, and cigarette manufacturers have admitted in publicly-available court documents, that second-hand smoke is dangerous and even life-threatening.
I’m confused. You repeatedly state that consuming products with diacetyl is safe, but have no research on the consumption of diacetyl and memory loss. How can you conclude it’s safe but have no research? Other sources (including medical) indicate there maybe an association between diacetyl consumption and memory loss, which would be a good place to start your research. Careful, your use of “safe” is unfounded and potentially misleading. You’re probably a lawyer, so providing medical conclusions may be beyond your wheelhouse.
Dave – to our knowledge, the consumption of foods and beverages containing diacetyl does not pose a risk to the consumer’s respiratory system. However, we are under the opinion that the diacetyl vapors released from heating foods and beverages containing diacetyl may put consumers/manufacturers at risk of respiratory injury, primarily popcorn lung. Our previous research on the subject of diacetyl dangers has been limited to the scope of our own litigation, so we cannot speak to the chemical’s association with memory loss. However, it is a very interesting topic. We will do our best to research it and expand on this piece in order to include all relevant information thank you for making us aware of this.
Hi, you say “…and most fruits” in your description of where diacetyl is found. Can you be more specific about which fruits? I can’t seem to find a list of them anywhere. Also is it the heating up of those fruits or the raw consumption of those fruits? Thanks!
It has been hard for our team to locate an entire list of fruits containing diacetyl, though can confirm they are found in beans and strawberries. These fruits do not pose any risk to the consumer’s respiratory system if consumed. They may pose a risk if heated in very high quantity, if the consumer is exposed to any vaporized diacetyl.
The previous questions about gelatin weren’t answered. I put a tsp. into each of two separate pots of steeping tea most every day. What about gelatin?
My son works in a micro brewery (making beer). Is he at risk since this involves heating grain, etc.?
Gail, we could not say for certain without knowing the ingredients that your son is working with, the working conditions, the PPE workers are provided, and the ventilation system that is being used.
Hello, and thank you for this information! What about the situation in the workplace when someone makes microwave popcorn in the break room? It may or may not have burned, but the smell always wafts throughout the office and is annoying. Can this cause popcorn lung? I work in a physicians office by the way. Thanks!
Hypothetically, this could cause popcorn lung. However, this person would have to be making popcorn extremely frequently in order to create a potentially hazardous level of diacetyl vapor. There was a documented case of a movie rental clerk who was exposed to microwaved popcorn on a very regular basis who subsequently developed popcorn lung.
I read somewhere that cheese is not for people over 50 because of diacetyl. Can’t find the source. Do you agree?
We are not familiar with any research related to diacetyl risks from cheese consumption that is related to age.
What about Nestle products i.e. coffee creamer