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Egon, I read about the workers breathing the flavor stuff too. I don't know about the process used to put Teflon on the bags. I don't know if that exposes the workers to the ingredients of Teflon making or just the Teflon itself. Also I don't know what the peak temperatures are on the bottom portion of the bag when being zapped in the microwave.

The paper bag does get fairly scorched and as we all learned fron Ray Bradbury's "Farhenheit 451", paper begins to burn at 451F which is getting close to the temp where Teflon emits Phosgene gas (about 460F.) I suspect that first use of a popcorn bag does not emit Phosgene and the temp doesn't get to 460F, partially ldue to the steam bath created in the bag by the popping kernels releasing moisture.

The bag has a warning on it to not reuse. I had originally thought that was due to a fire hazard or to promote not popping your own corn in their bag, thereby increasing their sales but that was speculation.

If first use emitted phosgene we'd likely have heard about it long before this. Maybe all the sensitiveand delicate pet birds like canaries would be dieing in homes that frequently used microwave popcorn. My best buddy in SOCAL (La Mesa) loves popcorn and has canaries. The birds seemed healthy in spite of all the microwave popcorn.

The press and many others just love sensationalism. An editor faced with the decision to title a piece something like "Food industry workers exposed to dangerous substances." or "KILLER POPCORN... Microwave popcorn ingredients subject of giant lawsuit, concerns for Teflon safety."

Which do you think would go to print?

Pat

"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"

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