Attorney Jessie Paluch, founder of TruLaw, has over 25 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and legal experts at TruLaw and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced injury lawyer, Jessie Paluch, you can do so here.
TruLaw does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us by using the chat on the bottom of this page. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
A new Center for Disease Control study uncovers the danger of exposure to diacetyl by various workers at coffee processing plants.
Studies reveal that diacetyl occurs naturally in coffee roasting even without flavoring and dangerous fumes from diacetyl coffee are released in greater quantities during the grinding process.
Diacetyl (2,3-butanedione) and acetyl prpionyl (2,3-pentanedione) have been blamed for hundreds of lung injuries and many deaths in the popcorn and flavoring industry.
Diacetyl and acetyl proprionyl are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) known as alpha-diketonoes that are added as ingredients in food flavorings and used in some food products such as microwave popcorn, bakery mixes, and flavored coffee.
It now appears that non-flavored coffee workers are at similar risk since diacetyl occurs naturally in coffee.
The August 2017 Health Hazard Evaluation Report has been released, with recommendations on steps coffee roasting facilities can take to protect their workers.
In addition, a medical monitoring program should be established to protect employees who work in the production area.
Early identification of symptoms from inhalation of diacetyl is imperative in protecting workers.
Suspicions about work-related lung injuries occurring in the coffee industry are not new.
In 2013, the CDC identified workers in a coffee-processing facility in Texas who experienced progressive shortness of breath that was not properly diagnosed with a diagnosis of work-related obliterative bronchitis.
Early diagnosis with the flavoring-related lung disease at the Texas plant may have prevented others from getting sick and could have helped in the treatment of these two coffee workers.
The two cases of bronchiolitis obliterans identified in 2013 at the coffee-processing facility suggested the expansion of the number of workers potentially at risk for the flavoring-chemical related disease.
In November 2015, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, which is the research arm of the CDC) followed the CDC identification of these two coffee-plant workers with an article and a dedicated website about the health hazards of exposure to diacetyl at a coffee processing plant.
In addition, NIOSH published standards and recommendations to prevent exposure at coffee processing plants and called for additional research into how coffee roasting, grinding, and storage could negatively affect the health of coffee production workers.
NIOSH followed their 2015 recommendations with further visits to coffee roasting plants in 2015 and 2016 as noted in the August 2017 Health Hazard Evaluation Report.
During visits to a Wisconsin coffee roasting facility at two separate times, researchers collected air samples and sampled coffee beans to measure the real-time air levels of diacetyl.
They also administered health questionnaires and performed breathing tests with several of the coffee-plant employees.
This further research found that coffee plant workers were four times more likely to report respiratory symptoms than the normal U.S. population.
Eye, nose, and sinus symptoms were the most commonly reported symptoms.
Wheezing was the most common lower respiratory symptom.
Experienced Attorney & Legal SaaS CEO
With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessie is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three. She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.
In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.
In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share reliable legal information with her readers!
Here, at TruLaw, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.
Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
At TruLaw, we fiercely combat corporations that endanger individuals’ well-being. If you’ve suffered injuries and believe these well-funded entities should be held accountable, we’re here for you.
With TruLaw, you gain access to successful and seasoned lawyers who maximize your chances of success. Our lawyers invest in you—they do not receive a dime until your lawsuit reaches a successful resolution!
Do you believe you’re entitled to compensation?
Use our Instant Case Evaluator to find out in as little as 60 seconds!
Camp Lejeune’s water contamination issue spanned several decades starting in the 1950s. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to various serious health issues, including cancer, organ diseases, and death.
Research is increasingly suggesting a link between the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and ADHD, in infants.
Legal action is being taken against manufacturers of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), a chemical used in fighting fires. The plaintiffs allege that exposure to the foam caused health issues such as cancer, organ damage, and birth and fertility issues.
Here, at TruLaw, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.
Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
Consumers are advised that Melissa’s brand fresh organic basil in 2.0-ounce and 4.0-ounce packages are now included in a April 19, 2024 recall initiated by Miami, Florida-based Infinite Herbs LLC. The Melissa’s brand portion of the recall covers 96 2.0-ounce packages of fresh organic basil
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC has announced a corrective Class I recall of an infusion pump software, LVP Software, that runs on the Ivenix Infusion System (IIS). Initiated by the firm on March 7, 2024, the action comes after multiple software anomalies were identified and found
According to the FDA, 20-ounce packages of “King Kullen Broccoli Cutlets with Bread Crumbs and Parmesan” have been recalled by New Haven, Connecticut-based Gracie’s Kitchen due to the potential presence of undeclared sesame and wheat. Individuals who live with allergies to either allergen are advised