I am trying to figure out what’s actually in movie popcorn (especially the “buttery” God-knows-what substance.) I had a food sensitivity reaction and have narrowed it down to the popcorn. Does ANYONE know what is in it???
Every theatre can make their popcorn with something different. Have you tried talking to the manager of the establishment where you had the reaction? If not, do it! All you have to do is pick up the phone.
Could it be possible that the oil it was popped in contained peanut oil? A lot of popcorn is popped in a blend of canola, corn, peanut & coconut oil. Do you have an allergy to any of those plants?
Diacetyl (AKA butanedione)
Popcorn Worker Lung-- A Growing National Concern
FDA to audit microwave-popcorn safety
That’s microwave popcorn, not movie-theater popcorn (unless the theater is microwaving iits popcorn).
Movie theatres use fake butter, of which diacetyl is an ingredient.
Why should it be so hard to keep a couple of pounds of melted butter on hand?
Real butter would go rancid pretty quickly; I doubt you could keep the left-over stuff from one day to the next. In addition, unless they keep it agitated, fat solids in real butter would tend to settle out to the bottom of the container. Pretty nasty, not something you want sitting around for 12 hours or so. Net effect: real butter at the theater would create more expense and waste for the theater, but little benefit.
In most businesses, if the question is “why” the answer is usually “money.” If they go to the effort to keep real, fresh butter available for the popcorn, it will cut into their $3.75 profit on a $4.00 tub of popcorn. Soda and popcorn are where they make most of their money.
And the manager of the theatre damn well better be able to tell you exactly what was in the popcorn.
When I worked in a candy store, we sold popcorn. The stuff that gor put on it came in sticks and looked like butter, but it didn’t require refrigeration, and didn’t go bad. I’m pretty sure the ingredients were listed on the label.
I love popcorn w/movies, but am also unable to stomach the overpriced, chemical-soaked crap they sell at the theater. I pop my own at home, sprinkle some parmesean on it and take it with me. They’re not losing money on me because it’s not like I would buy their popcorn if I didn’t bring my own. I’d just do without.
The manager should be able to tell you what was in it, its not like they change what they use every day or anything. Re: real butter. I worked at a theater and whatever was in the pumps but wasnt used got put back in the original container until the next day. I don’t even want to imagine how many times that could happen with the exact same butter-like stuff. This is why the butter pumps are heated, to kill whatever could be in it and keep popcorn hot. Trust, that stuff burns when it hits your arm because you pushed the pump part too quickly.
While working at movie theaters many, many years ago, I learned horrible things about movie popcorn toppings. Although I haven’t eaten the stuff since, I do occasionally ask questions at the theater when tempted.
It’s been my observation (for local theaters, anyway), that the theater chains tend to change which oil they’re using as topping quite regularly. And it almost never contains any butter (hence calling it “golden topping” or somesuch). Also, usually both the concession workers and managers are clueless as to what’s in that oil – I have friends with peanut allergies who daren’t eat either the concession candies (made on machines where peanuts are also handled), or the popcorn (topped with what might include peanut oil).
If you’re trying to ID the topping so you know what you’re sensitive to, have the local theater manager give you a number to call at the corporate offices.
If you’re just trying to find out what’s in the popcorn to see if there’s something you’re sensitive to, you’re better off just giving up the movie popcorn. There’s no guarentee what they serve you today will be the same thing next week.
Could be Topsit artificial butter topping. No clue on the ingredients though.
The process I am familiar with uses “Real Butter” some sort of ultra pasteurized thing in a jar that sits in the fridge and is put in the butter dispenser, the corn, popping oil of mystery and ‘popcorn seasoning’ of mystery. I would be suspicious of the seasoning because just by itself it kind of tastes like Steak & Chop Seasoning Salt you’d get at the supermarket and that stuff has A LOT of ingredients.
It varies widely between different plant-derived oils. My old workplace used coconut oil marketed as popcorn topping (and dyed searingly orange).
Good gad.
What do they do it they catch you sneaking your own popcorn in?
No idea. I’ve been doing it rather blatantly for years. Never been hassled. I routinely walk in with my own bottle of water also (right in my hand, not hidden), and no one seems to care. I’ve also occasionally brought a mini wine bottle (like Sutter Home, with the screwtop that they make for picnics) or a beer, if I want. Though I do take care to be discreet with those, out of respect for others.
Once again, they don’t offer those choices and I don’t drink soda, ever, so I’m not ripping them off.
You can get a tub of popcorn for $4.00 in St. Paul? Here your $4.00 gets you the smallest bag.
The tubs kick in at around $7.50.
By busty slave wenches, no doubt.
Thanks for all the replies… my problems are lactose and gluten, so who knows. Anyway, it’s the Regal Cinemas chain. One indie movie theater here does use real butter. 