Colorado man settles some claims in ‘popcorn lung’ lawsuit against flavor company

Colo. man settles claims in ‘popcorn lung’ lawsuit

DENVER — A suburban Denver man believed to be the only consumer to develop “popcorn lung” from regularly eating microwave popcorn and its artificial butter flavoring has settled his claims against a flavor developer.

Documents filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Denver say Wayne Watson has settled claims against FONA International Inc., formerly Flavors of North America Inc.

Both sides agreed to bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs. Other terms weren’t released. A phone message left after business hours for Watson’s attorneys wasn’t returned.

Watson has said he regularly ate two bags of microwave popcorn a day for years. In 2007, he was diagnosed with a lung condition linked to the flavor chemical diacetyl, found in popcorn flavoring.