Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Cause Safety Concerns

In the complaint that the UWU issued to Safework SA, a health and safety regulator in South Australia, 11 out of 13 factory workers have brought several health-related concerns to the union’s attention.

Included in the complaint were instances of sneezing, coughing, eye and skin irritation, and, in some cases, difficulty breathing. The complaint cited poor ventilation on the factory floor when the Flamin’ Hot seasoning machine is operated every couple of weeks.

PepsiCo, who owns the Smith’s Snackfood Company factory, asserts that proper safe-handling procedures exist.

But given the complaint’s seriousness, they plan to implement additional safeguards like installing extra extraction fans to help ventilate the factory better when the Flamin’ Hot seasoning is dispersed.

In addition to upping the ante on the ventilation front, mask-wearing will be mandatory whenever the product is in active production.

If you’re wondering whether Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are unsafe for human consumption, the short answer is no. But if you’re going to rub your eyes after eating a bag without properly washing your hands first, you’re probably going to have a bad time.

In other words, Flamin’ Hot seasoning in small quantities will simply make your taste buds burn with delight when eaten as intended.

The real issue at hand isn’t the Flamin’ Hot seasoning itself, but rather the high volume that’s present in the production area during the manufacturing process.

Like when you get an x-ray at the dentist’s office, safety is a primary concern. A quick blast of radiation in this context probably won’t cause any significant health concerns if you’re going to the dentist once every six months.

But the doctors and x-ray technicians who are running that machine all day need to protect themselves from the constant radiation exposure that they face on a daily basis.

This isn’t the first time that a spicy product like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos caused health concerns either.

Back in 2013, a sriracha factory owned by Huy Fong Foods in Irwindale, California, was sued by the city for causing city residents to experience burning eyes, irritated throats, and headaches.

In this case, the lawsuit was quickly dropped when the Huy Fong promised to address the issue, and the factory was able to resume its regular operations.

If safety protocols are revamped at the Smith’s Snackfood Company factory, then it’s a win-win situation.

Workers will be relieved from the caustic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos fumes, and production will continue on a regular schedule.

You’ll also have some peace of mind knowing that nobody working at the factory is experiencing any health issues or discomfort while producing the popular snack.

So if you’re about to step out for your lunch break, and you’re having second thoughts about popping open a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, you can rest assured that you’ll probably be okay if you’re just looking for a quick snack.

Source: Sky News