On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:53:22 -0800, Nancy2 >
wrote:

>On Nov 6, 9:13 am, Sky > wrote:
>> wrote:
>>
>> > A friend claimed that someone he worked with works in a major bakery
>> > has to wear something that looks like a "space suit" when this person
>> > makes fat free baked items. Any idea about why this would be the
>> > case, or does this sound like total nonsense? Supposedly, there is a
>> > very dangerous ingredient being used, but looking at the labels, I
>> > found nothing that would suggest workers should wear gloves and masks
>> > for "protection" other than what one might consider doing if he/she
>> > worked in any bakery environment.
>>
>> > Thanks in advance.
>>
>> No, it doesn't sound like nonsense to me. Perhaps that bakery employee
>> is dealing with one or more ingredients that are suspected (known?) to
>> cause "popcorn lung" disease. That'd be my guess.
>>
>> Sky
>>
>> --
>> Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
>> Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice
>
>Sounds suspicious to me. The "popcorn lung" was due to the "butter"
>used in microwavable popcorn, and even though "fat free" might use the
>same ingredient as the popcorn, I can't see how wearing a safe suit
>would protect the worker any more than just wearing a mask.
>
>N.

The Hub's company does a lot of work for a place that makes baking
mixes. It is a big operation with domestic and international clients.
They go to great lengths to ensure the purity of the products. The
workers wear coveralls and hairnets and remove all jewelry to protect
the product. They even have special bandaids at first aid that , if
inadvertently dropped into any part of the process, can be detected
and the materials destroyed.

If there is particulate matter in the air from a special process, I
suppose a mask or respirator might be needed, though I do not recall
any respirators off hand.

Boron