If you’ve developed long-term breathing problems or have been diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly called popcorn lung, you may be entitled to compensation. This rare but serious condition has been linked to exposure to diacetyl, a chemical compound once widely used to produce buttery flavors in foods and other products.
At Meyers & Flowers, our product liability lawyers in Chicago represent injured victims who have suffered lasting respiratory damage after inhaling diacetyl vapors. Learn more about diacetyl exposure and the lawsuits that may follow below, and reach out to us for a free consultation to get started with your case.
What Is Diacetyl and Why Is It Dangerous?
Diacetyl is a volatile organic compound that produces a rich, buttery aroma used in products such as cooking oils and others. When diacetyl is inhaled, it can scar and narrow the smallest airways in the lungs, leading to irreversible damage.
This lung disease is known as bronchiolitis obliterans. It is not caused by an infection or smoking, but rather by chemical irritation. Victims often experience chronic breathing difficulties that worsen over time and may require lifelong medical care.
Common symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing and dry coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness with exertion
- Chest tightness
Over time, this chemical exposure can permanently affect lung function, making even everyday activities difficult for those who have been harmed.
Common Ways Diacetyl Exposure Occurs
Exposure to diacetyl usually happens when the compound becomes airborne in heated or enclosed environments. People can inhale these vapors without realizing they are at risk. A few of the most prevalent exposure situations are:
- Inhaling heated butter-flavoring vapors
- Working in facilities with poor ventilation
- Spending years in manufacturing areas without protective equipment
- Repeated exposure during daily work shifts
Small amounts of exposure can still be extremely harmful if it happens consistently over time.
Industries and Products Commonly Involved
Most cases of popcorn lung linked to diacetyl have occurred in industrial and commercial settings where the compound is used frequently. Workers in the following industries may be at heightened risk:
- Microwave popcorn manufacturing
- Flavoring and food-processing plants
- Commercial bakeries
- Snack food production
- Coffee roasting and packaging facilities
- E-cigarette and vape liquid manufacturing (in older formulations)
These industries illustrate how widespread diacetyl exposure once was and how easily workers across different settings can be placed at risk when safety precautions are overlooked.
What Causes Diacetyl-Related Illnesses?
Many cases of diacetyl exposure result from preventable workplace conditions. Companies have a legal responsibility to protect their employees by maintaining safe environments and providing appropriate warnings. Frequent causes of exposure include:
- Failure to provide proper ventilation
- Lack of respiratory protection
- Failure to warn workers about inhalation risks
- Continued use of diacetyl despite known health hazards
- Inadequate safety training or air monitoring
Employers and manufacturers that ignore these basic precautions may be held legally liable for the harm their actions cause.
How Does Diacetyl Litigation Work?
Victims who develop respiratory illnesses, like popcorn lung and others, after diacetyl exposure may be eligible to file a legal claim for compensation. These lawsuits often allege that manufacturers and employers failed to warn about known dangers and failed to implement adequate safety measures. Many claims are based on negligence, but others may rely on another legal theory instead.
In past cases, juries have awarded significant verdicts in the seven and eight-figure range to workers and consumers alike who developed lung disease after exposure to diacetyl. An experienced attorney can help you by:
- Gathering the available medical and workplace evidence
- Identifying all of the liable parties, including manufacturers and employers
- Working with medical experts to connect your illness to diacetyl exposure
- Negotiating a settlement and pursuing your case in court if necessary
You may be able to recover both economic damages (for things like medical bills) as well as non-economic damages (for pain and suffering and other similar impacts) in these cases.
Contact Meyers & Flowers Today To Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with popcorn lung after exposure to diacetyl, you may have legal options. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys with Meyers & Flowers have a proven track record of success representing victims of dangerous consumer products and workplace toxins, and now we’re here to get to work for you.
Call us at (630) 576-9696 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation. We’ve won over $6 billion for our clients to date and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.