mcgerm’s Recent Comments

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  I should have been more pithy...

  1. It is a regulatory issue that does not fit within our current framework.
     
  2. Since diacetyl is THE natural compound that gives butter its flavor what do you replace it with. More complex chemistries that are not from butter, or natural butter concentrate that would still be full if diacetyl.
     
  3. In the food industry there are many chemical hazards to workers that are not addressed because the regulatory framework says that they are GRAS materials.
     
  4. Making the link for popcorn workers has been relatively easy due to the high concentrations involved, but damage for others happens over longer time scales.  Noone in industry and government wants to open that can of worms, or they may need to regulate French chefs and people making spice blends with mustard powder.
     
  On While the FDA and EPA look away, noxious fumes from fake butter wreck lungs posted 2 years, 2 months ago 7 Responses

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  For the love!

  This is a new one for the regulatory agencies.  Diacetyl is a naturally occurring chemical and found naturally in foods.  The as eaten use level in microwave popcorn is no higher than the level it would be found in naturally churned butter.  So as a natural compound in food FDA does not regulate it.  It is GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe).  So when someone makes artificial diacetyl (usually by yeast fermentation) it is still the same chemical and thus carries the same GRAS status.  Since the FDA has all regulatory authority over food additives the EPA, OSHA, DOT, CPSC, and State Governments are on thin ice for legal standing if they try to regulate its use.  OSHA is now trying to protect workers but how far should they go.  Should they require French chefs who sauté way took much stuff in butter to wear NIOSH-approved respirator masks?  There are tens of thousands of natural compounds in foods which when concentrated are corrosive, terragenic, mutagenic, or just plane skull-and-crossbones lethal.  Where do you stop... mustard contains a class 1 carcinogen, broccoli a naturally occurring nerve toxin, all fruits in the cherry (Prunus) family contain cyanide, tea/chocolate/asparagus contain toxins that can cause calcium deficiency or kidney failure...On While the FDA and EPA look away, noxious fumes from fake butter wreck lungs posted 2 years, 2 months ago 7 Responses