OSHA Toughens Stance On Diacetyl Substitutes In Widened Microwave Popcorn Plant NEP

OSHA intensified its efforts to take enforcement action countering the food industry's controversial use of the food flavoring diacetyl and numerous substitute chemicals, broadening the agency's National Emphasis Program (NEP) targeting microwave popcorn processing facilities to include chemicals now used in place of the buttery flavoring, which has been blamed for worker respiratory ailments commonly called “popcorn lung.” Experts on OSHA law and workplace health noted, however, that in the absence of a specific federal OSHA standard on diacetyl or substitute chemicals, the agency would need