US to hold stakeholder meeting on diacetyl

26 September 2007 18:01  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--US health officials said on Wednesday they will meet with producers and users of butter flavouring compound diacetyl as the government moves toward regulating workplace use of the substance.

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it will hold a meeting on 17 October in Arlington, Virginia, “to collect information from all interested stakeholders on how to protect the health of employees exposed to diacetyl and food flavourings containing diacetyl”.

 

Earlier this week the administration said it is taking steps toward regulation of diacetyl use in the workplace.

 

Administration director Edwin Foulke said the October meeting will discuss uses of diacetyl, current means of measuring exposure, available exposure data and what steps may be necessary to reduce workplace exposure and screen employees for possible health impacts.

 

The meeting also will consider available substitutes for diacetyl.

 

Diacetyl is widely used in a variety of foods but most prominently to give microwave popcorn a butter flavour.  Worker exposure to diacetyl has formed the basis of several lawsuits, and major food production companies recently have announced plans to abandon use of the substance.

 

The administration indicated it expects as many as 50 people to attend the meeting in Arlington, just south of Washington, DC.  If more than 50 stakeholders express interest in attending the October session, Foulke said a second meeting will be scheduled.

 

Further information about the meeting and registration for it are available on the OSHA Web site.

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

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