Like a nice bowl of microwave popcorn in the evening? Others do too—in fact, America downs 16 billion quarts of popcorn annually—but Safebee reports that many microwave popcorns come with apparent health risks. Four, to be exact:
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA): This nonstick coating can be found in fire-fighting foam and pizza boxes. Scientists say the chemical is also associated with cancers and female infertility. Luckily some brands, like Orville Redenbacher and Jolly Time, don't have it.
- Trans fats: Several microwave popcorns include these so-called "Franken fats," which have been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Check the product's Nutrition Facts panel for brands that have no trans fats.
- Saturated fat: If you don't want "bad" LDL cholesterol, buy microwave popcorn with better fat options.
Visit Safebee to read about the fourth potential health woe—high sodium—or read more on apparent health risks of microwave popcorn at NDTV. On a positive note, see In Style's guide to microwaving popcorn on your own. (More microwave popcorn stories.)
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