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ConAgra Foods, is the largest microwave popcorn make in the United States. In response to concerns about a flavoring chemical they use in their microwave popcorn, they're dropping the chemical diacetyl as an ingredient used in flavoring.

Diacetyl has been identified as a cause in cases of bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare disease that can be life-threatening, also called popcorn lung.

A spokeswoman for ConAgra, Stephanie Childs, said the company removed the flavoring to protect its workers, who are the ones at risk when they inhale the fumes in large quantities.

"We've made that decision based on the knowledge for the potential risk to our employees," Childs said.

Childs added while the exact time the chemical replaced isn't known, it will be sometime in the next year.

Diacetyl has been approved by the FDA as a flavor ingredient, and occurs naturally in foods like butter, fruits and cheese, says the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association.

While the effects on workers has been known for a long time, there is one case of a consumer that ate at least two bags of buttered popcorn a day possibly developing the disease.

In response to that case, Dr. Cecile Rose a pulmonary specialist at Denver’s National Jewish Medical and Research Center, cautioned TODAY co-host Meredith Vieira that the connection can’t be proved with absolute certainty. Rose also sent a letter to federal health officials detailing the case.

She added the case was unusual in the quantity of the popcorn eaten by the consumer.

Either way, diacetyl will be dropped from all popcorn companies soon. The identification by consumers has already been made between the chemical and health issues, even if it doesn't apply for consumers. There's no other choice but to make alternative flavoring.

Some popcorn companies have alternative flavoring already in their products, most that don't are looking for alternatives.

ConAgra makes Orville Redenbacher and Act II popcorn.