What are the health concerns about microwave popcorn?

Some health concerns about microwave popcorn include inhaling toxins in the bag's lining, and added artificial flavorings (Diacetyl) and trans fats. Watch pediatrician Alan Greene, MD, explain the concerns, and suggest some healthier popcorn options.

Transcript

00:00

It's super easy and convenient to make microwave popcorn yourself. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:10

In recent years, there have been a number of emerging concerns about microwave popcorn, prepackaged microwave popcorn.

00:17

One of them is the bag itself contains a nonstick lining that can drive PFOA into the popcorn

00:24

that we eat. PFOA is one of the nonstick chemicals that has a number of different health effects,

00:30

and it's estimated that 20% of the PFOA in our bodies comes from microwave popcorn. My second big concern is with one

00:38

of the artificial flavorings called diacetyl. It's an artificial butter flavoring that's been linked to serious lung disease, popcorn lung,

00:45

especially in people who get exposed to a lot of it, factory workers or people who eat microwave popcorn a couple of times a day.

00:51

But even a little bit could be irritating to the lungs. My third big concern is that even though trans fats have

00:58

gotten out of most of the grocery store aisles and most of our food, there's still significant amounts in some microwave popcorn.

01:04

And look for partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list. There are good alternatives.

01:11

You can buy clean, prepackaged microwave popcorn. It's organic, without diacetyl, without trans fats. Or it's super easy and convenient

01:20

to make microwave popcorn yourself. Just take a quarter cup of kernels. Pour it in a brown paper bag, fold it over two or three times, and pop it in the microwave.

01:28

If you want, you could add a half a teaspoon of olive oil and some salt before doing it, or you could season afterwards with any kind of seasoning you

01:35

like. We like garlic Parmesan or lemon pepper or chili lime. Be creative. But making it yourself is cheaper.

01:43

It costs about 12 and 1/2 cents a bag. It tastes better. It's fresh and alive, flavorings that you do yourself.

01:50

It gives you control. It's fun. You can experiment. And you skip the PFOA, the diacetyl, the trans fats, chemical preservatives, et cetera.