Also? I can kill you with my brain microwave popcorn.

This past summer, a cherished and dear member of my family - our hot air popcorn popper - passed away at the advanced age of 15 years.

For weeks, we looked for a replacement, only to find that every darn air popper we bought left at least 1/4 cup of kernels unpopped, as well as spewed the popped stuff all over the kitchen. After trying about 10 different brands, we finally admitted defeat – we would have to try microwave popcorn.

While searching the internet to see if there were any healthier methods to making popcorn in the microwave, we came across news stories from the States which claim that packaged popcorn like Orville Redenbacher and Act II can, potentially, kill you.

According to the New York Times, (*ding!* that’s one for me, Kenton ;) a doctor in the United States has been able to positively link the consuming of microwave popcorn as cause of severe lung inflammation found in one of her patients.

Buttered microwave popcorn contains a chemical called diacetyl which is used to create that artifical buttery flavour. When it’s heated, it forms a vapour that can cause the lungs to swell, making breathing difficult for anyone who is exposed to it over a long period of time.

But there is a better way. All you need is a paper bag and some popping corn. Seriously.

Take about 1/4 cup of kernels, put them into the bag, fold the bag over, and microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes. Add some of your own real butter, and voila - popcorn perfecto!

Surprised? I was too, but who can blame us? We’ve been bombarded for so many years with images of prepackaged popcorn being popped in microwaves that many of us can’t imagine it being done any other way. But it can, and (hello starving students!) it’s cheaper.

It’s the Recession, Didiot! has done the math, and your freshly popped, do-it-yourself popcorn will have cost you a grand total of 9 cents, compared to the average $1.29 for a store bought package.

Where I think this all relates to communications is in the combination of advertising and PR which has successfully promoted microwave popcorn’s convenience and taste while smoothing over any concerns over public health.

In spite of diacetyl being linked to the lung disease found in workers of microwave popcorn plants in 4 American states, USA Food and Drug Administration insists (in classic crisis communication style) that they “haven’t seen anything that would give us any reason to suspect this is something we should make a high priority” (USA Today report).

Right.

I think I’ll stick to my 9 cent popcorn, just in case (“or my name isn’t Orville Redenbacher”).