The Associated Press reports that America's largest popcorn maker, ConAgra Foods (NYSE: CAG), has been poisoning the lungs of its popcorn plant workers and will take its time solving the problem. Specifically, ConAgra will change the recipe for its Orville Redenbacher and Act II brands over the next year to remove the flavoring chemical diacetyl, linked to a lung ailment in popcorn plant workers.
The decision comes a day after a doctor at a leading lung research hospital said in a warning letter to federal regulators that consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn.
The timing of this decision suggests that ConAgra has no problem poisoning its workers. But it seems to care a bit more about poisoning its customers. After all, if all its customers get lung disease and die, who will pay for the popcorn? I guess ConAgra feels comfortable that its employees can always be replaced.
I wonder whether ConAgra is concerned that its employees will sue the company for unsafe working conditions? Or will microwave popcorn eaters will rise up and sue ConAgra for lung poisoning? Meanwhile ConAgra's planned slow pace of replacing the flavoring chemical guarantees that I will keep its products out of my kitchen for a long, long time.
Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-05-2007 @ 3:37PM
Irvine Robbins said...
I wanted to read the article :What you don't know about microwave popcorn ....." but thefont which you used is so small, that it is not readable. Please tell me how to make it larger. Thank you.
9-05-2007 @ 3:38PM
Biggascoop said...
I had previoulsly sent you this message, burt it was returned for insertion of password which I have done. Now, please tell me how I can make the font that you used larger. It is not readable at the present time.
9-05-2007 @ 4:39PM
Jeff said...
where can I get my Tab?
9-06-2007 @ 6:46PM
paul burke said...
such a dumb analysis some make about the popcorn flavoring. the compan y is poisoning its workers, the consumer is in danger--such tripe as this follows every unproven claim. the consumer who MAYBE has damaged his lung--his own doctor says the guy ate several bags of microwave popcorn EVERY DAY..FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
his case is not proved.....the FDC has okayed the butter flavoring earlier. so let em look into the matter. then take a stand. without proof, you make a fool of yourself proclaiming doomsday for popcorn eaters.