Research has linked the coatings used in microwave popcorn to health issues. “One of the ingredients found in many brands of microwaveable popcorn is diacetyl, a flavoring which has been linked to the lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans,” says Anna Taylor, a clinical dietician with Cleveland Clinic.

Are there chemicals in microwave popcorn?

Many bags of microwave popcorn contain chemicals meant to preserve the ingredients, add flavoring, and keep grease from soaking through the bag.

Is microwavable popcorn healthy?

According to several scientific studies, flavoring additives like diacetyl and other chemicals used in microwave popcorn bags were deemed unsafe because of the potential risk of health effects, such as irreversible lung damage.