PAM cooking spray is the subject of product-liability lawsuits over burns from exploding cans. Other suits involve a lung disease that plaintiffs tie to butter-flavored spray. No recall has been announced.
Plaintiffs allege vented cans burst into flames near heat. They also allege butter-flavored PAM exposed a user to diacetyl. The cases are individual suits against Conagra Brands. There is no class action or MDL. Conagra denies liability.
Conagra’s annual report says it has settled all but a few of the cooking spray cases. Juries returned verdicts in Cook County, Illinois in 2023 and in Los Angeles in 2026.
- Case or litigation name: Individual product-liability suits against Conagra over PAM cooking spray, including Reese v. Conagra Brands and Esparza v. Conagra Brands
- Defendants: Conagra Brands, Inc.; DS Containers (can maker) was also sued in 2019
- Court and docket number, when available: No single docket; separate cases in Cook County Circuit Court (Illinois), Los Angeles County Superior Court (California) and other courts
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
- Filing date: May 7, 2019 (first group of eight plaintiffs)
- Main allegations: Plaintiffs allege vented PAM cans burst into flames near heat, causing burns, and that butter-flavored PAM spray exposed a user to diacetyl, causing lung disease; Conagra denies liability
- Products or people involved: PAM and other Conagra cooking sprays in vented cans of 10 ounces or more, and PAM Butter Flavor spray; people burned in home and restaurant kitchens or at cookouts, and a user with lung disease
Table Of Contents
- Latest PAM Cooking Spray Lawsuit Updates
- July 17, 2026: Judge Denies Bid to Overturn the Esparza Verdict
- February 4, 2026: Los Angeles Jury Awards $25 Million in the Esparza Case
- October 30, 2023: Cook County Jury Awards Tammy Reese $7.1 Million
- September 26, 2019: Report Counts 17 New Lawsuits over Exploding Cans
- August 7, 2019: New Hampshire Man Sues Conagra over a Cookout Burn
- May 7, 2019: Eight Burn Victims Sue Conagra
- What Is Diacetyl?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
Latest PAM Cooking Spray Lawsuit Updates
July 17, 2026: Judge Denies Bid to Overturn the Esparza Verdict
On July 17, 2026, a California judge denied a request by Conagra to reverse the $25 million Esparza verdict. The judge called it a “close call,” Law360 reported [1]. Bloomberg Law reported the verdict [2].
A final judgment has not yet been entered. Conagra says it will appeal any final judgment, according to Conagra’s annual report [3].
February 4, 2026: Los Angeles Jury Awards $25 Million in the Esparza Case
On February 4, 2026, a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury awarded Roland Esparza $25 million. It assigned Conagra full responsibility for his lung disease, Bloomberg Law reported on February 10, 2026.
Esparza attributed his bronchiolitis obliterans to butter-flavored PAM spray. MassLive reported that jurors decided the case in Los Angeles [4].
October 30, 2023: Cook County Jury Awards Tammy Reese $7.1 Million
On October 30, 2023, a Cook County Circuit Court jury ordered Conagra Brands to pay Tammy Reese $7.1 million, the Associated Press reported [5].
Of that, $3.1 million was compensatory and $4 million was punitive. Reese was burned when a can of Swell cooking spray exploded.
September 26, 2019: Report Counts 17 New Lawsuits over Exploding Cans
The Counter reported on September 26, 2019 that 17 new lawsuits were filed that week. They were filed in Illinois state court against Conagra over exploding cooking spray cans [6].
According to Law360, Conagra and DS Containers, which makes the cans for the sprays, had been sued 33 times that year. The first round, in May, came from eight plaintiffs.
August 7, 2019: New Hampshire Man Sues Conagra over a Cookout Burn
On August 7, 2019, Seacoast Online reported that Jon Sherrill sued Conagra Foods for product liability and negligence in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire [7].
Sherrill alleges he suffered burns, scarring and disfigurement at a cookout on July 23, 2016. The complaint had been filed the month before. His suit seeks lost wages and medical bills.
May 7, 2019: Eight Burn Victims Sue Conagra
On May 7, 2019, eight burn victims sued Conagra, the maker of PAM, over exploding cans. NBC News carried the Associated Press report on May 8, 2019 [8].
The suits say vented cans of 10 ounces or larger burst into flames. Conagra said the vent was used on a limited number of cans and removed in a redesign unrelated to the lawsuits.
What Is Diacetyl?
NIOSH is part of the CDC. It says diacetyl and its substitute are flavoring chemicals used in food flavoring and production industries. These include microwave popcorn, bakery mix and flavored coffee [9].
NIOSH says workplace exposure to diacetyl has been associated with severe respiratory impairment. It is also associated with a lung disease called obliterative bronchiolitis. That disease is central to the Esparza case.
Who May Be Affected?
People burned by a vented PAM or other Conagra cooking spray can may be affected. The can sprayed out flammable contents near a stove, grill or other heat source. Whether a person qualifies depends on an individual legal review.
Reese’s lawyer said the affected cans were made between 2011 and 2019. They are 10 ounces or more, with four small U-shaped slits on the bottom. Plaintiffs allege the vents can release flammable contents on their own.
People who used PAM Butter Flavor spray daily for years and were diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans may also be affected. Esparza used it multiple times a day for decades.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The injuries below are alleged in complaints. They are not court findings. The eight plaintiffs who sued in 2019 alleged third-degree burns, disfigurement and blindness.
One said a contact lens burned onto her eye, causing near-blindness. Reese’s case described deep second-degree burns to her head, face, arms and hands, with scarring.
Esparza was diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans. MassLive, citing the Chicago Tribune, reported that he faces a double-lung transplant while on 24-hour oxygen.
The Esparza jury found the spray failed to perform as safely as customers would expect. It also found the spray lacked adequate warnings about inhalation risks.
Conagra argued it removed diacetyl from PAM’s formula in 2009. The jury held it responsible for earlier formulations. Daily Journal called it the largest consumer diacetyl verdict in history [10].
Recall and Regulatory Background
No recall of PAM cooking spray has been announced by Conagra or the CPSC. Conagra had not recalled the vented cans when TODAY reported on the suits in 2019 [11].
In 2019 Conagra said it had stopped making the vented design. It said the cans were safe when used as directed.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers have said the company refused a recall. Consumer Reports advised anyone worried about a PAM can to contact Conagra directly.
Evidence to Preserve
Records and physical items from a burn or illness can matter later. Keep these items:
- The can and its packaging. Photograph the bottom vents and any lot or date code, and do not discard it.
- Receipts or store records showing where and when it was bought.
- Photographs of the scene and of your injuries.
- Medical, hospital and prescription records.
- For lung disease, records of how often and how long you used the butter-flavored spray, and your diagnosis.
- Names of any witnesses.
- Communications with Conagra or the retailer.
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines for injury claims come from state law, so where you live decides which rules apply to you. The deadline can also depend on when the burn, illness or diagnosis happened. In some states the clock starts at diagnosis.
Filing late can bar a claim. A lawyer can tell you promptly which deadline applies to your burn or illness.
Potential Compensation
Claims for burns or lung injury may seek medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement. Where a court allows, they may include punitive damages.
Conagra paid $141.1 million in settlements in fiscal 2026. It agreed to pay a further $44.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027.
The Esparza verdict led to an initial judgment of $22.9 million, including certain offsets, as Conagra’s annual report states.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation depends on the facts of each claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Not Use PAM Cooking Spray?
Why not use PAM cooking spray? Conagra says it is safe and effective when used correctly, as instructed. Plaintiffs include home cooks and restaurant cooks, and they allege burns or lung disease from the spray.
How Many PAM Lawsuits Are Pending?
How many PAM lawsuits are pending? In October 2023, Reese’s lawyer said more than 50 cases from other burn victims were pending against Conagra. That was a plaintiff attorney’s statement.
What Did the Reese Verdict Decide?
The Reese verdict decided that Conagra owed Tammy Reese of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, damages for burns she suffered in May 2017 at a social club kitchen. The jury added punitive damages to compensatory damages.
Does Conagra Admit Fault for the PAM Burns?
Conagra does not admit fault for the PAM burns. Its annual report says “We have denied liability.” After the Reese verdict, the company said it was evaluating its legal options, including appeal.
What Does the Research Say About Obliterative Bronchiolitis?
What the research says about obliterative bronchiolitis is that it cannot be cured, according to NIOSH. Roland Esparza was diagnosed with the disease, and a Los Angeles jury held Conagra responsible for his lung illness.
References
- https://www.law360.com/articles/2502902
- https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/conagra-must-pay-25-million-to-pam-spray-user-with-popcorn-lung
- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000023217/000110465926083905/tmb-20260531x10k.htm
- https://www.masslive.com/news/2026/02/pam-cooking-spray-linked-to-severe-lung-damage-25m-lawsuit.html
- https://apnews.com/article/pam-spray-fire-burn-conagra-lawsuit-swell-536d629af220f359a51b164bf3b873eb
- https://thecounter.org/conagra-pam-cooking-spray-explosions-lawsuit/
- https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/exeter-news-letter/2019/08/07/man-sues-claims-pam-cooking/4518931007/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/eight-burn-victims-sue-over-exploding-cans-pam-cooking-spray-n1003276
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flavorings/
- https://www.dailyjournal.com/article/389687-jury-awards-25m-in-landmark-pam-cooking-spray-liability-case
- https://www.today.com/food/lawsuit-alleges-cans-pam-cooking-spray-are-exploding-here-s-t153807