Comments germ has made

When you concentrate something...

The FDA defaults a chemical to GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) when it occurs naturally in food.  Diacetyl is the flavor of butter no other compound naturally occurring in butter imparts the exact flavor of butter other than diacetyl.  Naturally occurring from the milk enzymes and fats during churning, or man made makes no difference; it is the same chemical.  The problem is concentration.  Workers are inhaling concentrated diacetyl.  The concentration is what has made it deadly.  Many flavor compounds that occur naturally in food pose similar risks.  Here is another one `Allyl isothiocyanate' AKA mustard.  It's MSDS for the pure substance says "HARMFUL: Poison. Experimental teratogen, tumorigen, neoplastigen. Allergen. Severe irritant. Very destructive of mucous membranes." but the FDA says it is GRAS when used in foods.  Many essential oils are also extremely toxic: ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, licorice, onion, garlic, cherries, almonds, black pepper...On Orville Redenbacher must be stopped posted 2 years, 6 months ago 9 Responses