Flavoring-Related Lung Disease - Information for Healthcare Providers

Note: This publication has been superceded by 2012-148

Severe obstructive lung disease has been identified in people who work with flavoring chemicals containing diacetyl, including butter flavoring. Cases of severe lung disease have occurred in microwave popcorn plants and flavoring production plants. Lung biopsies in some affected people have shown the presence of a rare condition; constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans (also referred to as constrictive bronchiolitis, obliterative bronchiolitis, and bronchiolitis obliterans). In some workers, fixed airways obstruction has been severe enough to be fatal.