Diacetyl and Other Flavorings: New Health Concerns for Coffee Processors

摘要

Concerns about diacetyl and related flavorings have spread from the microwave popcorn industry to new areas, such as coffee processing. The CDC published a report on the health effects of chemicals produced during coffee processing, that stated, "Roasting coffee beans naturally produces diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione. Volatile organic compounds, including alpha-diketones (e.g, diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione), can be released during grinding of coffee." The CDC also reported that exposures to these chemicals at certain levels may result in reduced lung function, severe fixed obstructive lung disease, and an irreversible, and sometimes fatal, lung disease, obliterative bronchiolitis.