American Pop Corn Company

"The American Pop Corn Company, which makes Jolly Time microwavable popcorn, received licenses to sell its product in Iran and the Sudan under a humanitarian exception for food and medical aid. Henry Lapidos, the company's food products export manager, said he had no problem selling to countries like these because it was good to 'show the American flag' by placing products like American Pop Corn's on supermarket shelves in places where anti-American sentiment runs strong. 'I don't see us supporting the ayatollahs. I don't think the Revolutionary Guard - that soliders would take microwavable popcorn in their backpacks when they go to war,' he said. Asked whether popcorn should be considered a humanitarian good eligible for export exceptions, Mr. Lapidos answered this way: 'Hairbrushes are not; iPods are not. But popcorn? It depends on how you look at it,' he said. 'Popcorn has fibers, which are helpful to the digestive system. So it could be considered humanitarian, though it's pushing the envelope.'" (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)