DENVER - A man who had a two-bag-a-day popcorn habit - believed to be the only consumer to develop the “popcorn lung” that has plagued factory workers -sued yesterday claiming injury and saying the maker had failed to warn of the risks of sniffing the “buttery aroma.”

Wayne Watson’s attorney, Kenneth McClain, said the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court names The Kroger Co. A Kroger spokeswoman declined to comment.

Watson’s case of “popcorn lung” and his two-bag-a-day popcorn diet gained national attention last year when doctors diagnosed him with the rare lung condition linked to the flavoring chemical diacetyl.

The lawsuit, seeking unspecified damages, says Kroger “failed to warn that preparing microwave popcorn in a microwave oven as intended and smelling the buttery aroma could expose the consumer to an inhalation hazard and a risk of lung injury.”

Popcorn lung, also called bronchiolitis obliterans, has affected workers mixing vats of flavor, who have severe respiratory illnesses from inhaling diacetyl vapors.