{"id":15108,"date":"2026-04-23T10:34:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/?p=15108"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:40:10","slug":"cooking-up-a-lawsuit-how-pam-cost-one-man-his-lungs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/2026\/04\/23\/cooking-up-a-lawsuit-how-pam-cost-one-man-his-lungs\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooking Up a Lawsuit: How PAM Cost One Man His Lungs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Bianca Ortalano, Editor-in-Chief<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo courtesy of Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On September 28, 2020, Roland Esparza (\u201cEsparza\u201d) filed a civil complaint alleging that a certain butter-flavored cooking spray contained hazardous food flavoring components that caused Esparza to suffer from permanent injuries including, but not limited to, bronchiolitis obliterans; severe and progressive damage to the respiratory system; extreme shortness of breath; and significantly reduced life expectancy.1<\/a><\/sup> Esparza explained that he has been using Pam Butter Cooking Spray (\u201cPam\u201d) and Signature Select No Stick Butter Flavored Cooking Spray (\u201cSignature Select,\u201d referred to together herein with Pam as \u201cCooking Sprays\u201d), at least two times a day since 1993.2<\/a><\/sup> Esparza especially used the Cooking Sprays in a frying pan, heated on the stove.3<\/a><\/sup> Esparza brought his complaint under five theories of law: Strict product liability – manufacturing defect; strict product liability – design defect; strict product liability – failure to warn; negligence; and breach of implied warranties.4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under strict product liability, manufacturing defect, Esparza alleges that the defendants \u201cknew, or should have known, that exposure to the Diacetyl, Acetyl Propionyl, and other food flavoring components and chemical fumes and vapors from the [Cooking Sprays] caused serious and life-threatening respiratory injuries, including Bronchiolitis Obliterans.\u201d5<\/a><\/sup> Esparza went on to state that the Cooking Sprays were defective by virtue of being produced in substandard conditions, the end product differed from the intended result, and that it departed from the intended design.6<\/a><\/sup> Under his second cause of action, Esparza argued that the Cooking Sprays were \u201cmore dangerous than an ordinary consumer would expect\u201d and was defective as the foreseeable risks outweighed the utility of the design and formulation; users of the Cooking Sprays would not be aware of the risks of harm; there were no performance or safety advantages to the design and formulation; and the defendants could feasibly use an alternative design or formulation.7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esparza further claimed that defendants knew or should have known at all times during the manufacturing and retail process that prolonged use and exposure to Diacetyl, Acetyl Propionyl, and other food flavoring components contained in the Cooking Sprays could lead to serious injury or death, but failed to warn consumers or provide adequate instructions on safe use.8<\/a><\/sup> In regard to the negligence cause of action, Esparza alleged that defendants had the duty to use reasonable care in the manufacturing and distribution of the Cooking Sprays but failed to do so through careless and negligent acts and omissions.9<\/a><\/sup> Lastly, Esparza argued that \u201c[b]y placing their products in the stream of commerce, [defendants] impliedly warranted that their products were reasonably fit for their intended uses[,]\u2026were of merchantable quality[,]\u2026were not defective[,]\u2026would function as safely as ordinary users would expect[,]\u2026and would not cause serious disease, harm, or death\u201d; and that defendants breached these warranties due to the dangerous and defective nature of the Cooking Sprays.10<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December of 2020, defendants filed an answer alleging 33 different affirmative defenses to Esparza\u2019s claims.11<\/a><\/sup> These affirmative defenses include assumption of risk; no alternative design; statute of limitations; warnings; failure to mitigate; comparative fault; and unconstitutionality of punitive damages.12<\/a><\/sup> Defendants argue that their Cooking Sprays contain \u201cspecific warnings regarding the consequences of its use\u201d and that Esparza used the Cooking Sprays in disregard of the warnings.13<\/a><\/sup> Explaining that Esparza\u2019s right to recovery should be reduced by the amount of his own fault, which defendants claimed to be 100%.14<\/a><\/sup> Similar to their argument under the \u201cwarnings\u201d defense, defendants also argued that Esparza failed to mitigate his damages, which again should diminish his recovery.15<\/a><\/sup> Throughout the litigation, several defendants in the case were either dismissed or elected to settle. Now, six years later with just one defendant left, after thousands of court filings and weeks of testimony\u2014but only an hour and a half of deliberations\u2014the jury finally returned a verdict awarding Esparza $25,000,000 in compensatory damages and assigning all responsibility to defendant, Conagra.16<\/a><\/sup> The jury agreed with every one of Esparza\u2019s claims and declined to find Conagra\u2019s claim that Esparza\u2019s own negligence contributed to his harm persuasive.17<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esparza presented evidence that Conagra was aware that diacetyl could become more volatile when sprayed out of the can and heated; alleging that Conagra \u201crequired any employee who sprayed a can of Pam [] to undergo training on the dangers of diacetyl and have breathing protections.\u201d18<\/a><\/sup> The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified diacetyl as \u201cgenerally recognized as safe\u201d for ingestion in food, however ingestion is not the same as inhalation.19<\/a><\/sup> But what exactly is diacetyl? Diacetyl is a \u201cflavor compound produced by certain lactic acid bacteria\u201d and can be found in fermented foods such as beer and wine.20<\/a><\/sup> Diacetyl can also be found in tobacco and vaping products.21<\/a><\/sup> Acetyl propionyl, the second chemical Esparza claimed to have contributed to his injuries, is a substitute for diacetyl and is commonly found in microwave popcorn and flavored coffee.22<\/a><\/sup> Both compounds have been found to be associated with the same lung disease that Esparza suffers from\u2014bronchiolitis obliterans.23<\/a><\/sup> The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health notes that the first case of obliterative bronchiolitis in a food production employee likely occurred in 1985 in a facility making flavorings for the baking industry which used diacetyl as an ingredient.24<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite Conagra\u2019s claims that it was unaware of the risks of diacetyl exposure to consumers, the brand has been reformulating its sprays since 2009, moving away from diacetyl for all of its products.25<\/a><\/sup> To this point, the jury was presented with evidence that Conagra was aware that diacetyl could become more volatile when aerosolized or heated.26<\/a><\/sup> Conagra\u2019s expert testified that the brand could not have made formulations for Pam without diacetyl before 2009 as alternatives were not available.27<\/a><\/sup> However, as previously stated, Conagra was confronted with evidence that it had actual knowledge of the dangers of diacetyl by 2004 and before 2007 based on the training it required of its employees who would be spraying Pam.28<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why are Cooking Sprays even used if they presently contain, or have previously contained, these harmful ingredients? Cooking Sprays are often used to cut back on calories and fat.29<\/a><\/sup> These sprays also tend to provide lighter coverage of oil on the pan so that food remains non-stick.30<\/a><\/sup> Yet, these sprays are not free of calories and fat, and it is common for the \u201ccans to be filled with additives like soy lecithin\u2026and propellants like nitric oxide.\u201d31<\/a><\/sup> Whether you use a spray to keep down the calories or real butter to avoid additives, there are pros and cons to both options. Consumers are encouraged to read the ingredients lists on food and research what some of the artificial flavorings may actually be. It is important to recognize that \u201clower calorie\u201d does not always equate to \u201chealthy.\u201d And the label you see on the package may not be as trustworthy as it appears.32<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n

  1. \u00a0Compl. for Damages \u00b6 19, Sept. 28, 2020. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  2. \u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6 14. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  3. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  4. Id.<\/em> at 1. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  5. \u00a0Id. <\/em>at \u00b6 25. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  6. \u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6 26. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  7. \u00a0Compl. for Damages \u00b6 32, Sept. 28, 2020. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  8. \u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6\u00b6 42-43. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  9. \u00a0Id. <\/em>at \u00b6\u00b6 52-53. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  10. \u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6\u00b6 63-64. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  11. \u00a0Answer of Defendants Conagra Brands, Inc. and the Vons Companies, Inc. to Plaintiff\u2019s Compl. December 18, 2020. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  12. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  13. Id.<\/em> at 5. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  14. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  15. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  16. \u00a0Special Verdict Form \u00b6\u00b6 14-15, Feb. 4, 2026. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  17. \u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6 12. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  18. \u00a0Gina Kim, Conagra Owes $25M For Man\u2019s Lung Disease From Pam Spray<\/em>, Law360 (Feb. 5, 2026), https:\/\/www.law360.com\/articles\/2438765?from_lnh=true<\/a>\u00a0 \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  19. \u00a0Michigan State University, Community Request – Diacetyl<\/em>, Michigan State University (Mar. 31, 2025), https:\/\/cris.msu.edu\/news\/community-request\/community-request-diacetyl\/#:~:text=Diacetyl%20is%20safe%20for%20ingesting,as%20a%20food%20ingredient%20only<\/a>.\u00a0 \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  20. \u00a0Annette R. Iannucci & Janet M. Carter, Toxicity of Diacetyl and Structurally Related Flavoring Agents<\/em>, ScienceDirect (2024), https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science\/diacetyl<\/a>\u00a0 \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  21. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  22. \u00a0National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Flavorings and Lung Disease<\/em>, CDC (Feb. 24, 2025), https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/flavoring-related-lung-disease\/about\/index.html#:~:text=Overview,mix%2C%20and%20flavored%20coffee%20industries<\/a> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  23. \u00a0Id.<\/em>; Gina Kim, Conagra Owes $25M For Man\u2019s Lung Disease From Pam Spray<\/em>, Law360 (Feb. 5, 2026), https:\/\/www.law360.com\/articles\/2438765?from_lnh=true<\/a> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  24. \u00a0National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Flavorings and Lung Disease<\/em>, CDC (Feb. 24, 2025), https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/flavoring-related-lung-disease\/about\/index.html#:~:text=Overview,mix%2C%20and%20flavored%20coffee%20industries<\/a> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  25. \u00a0Gina Kim, Conagra Owes $25M For Man\u2019s Lung Disease From Pam Spray<\/em>, Law360 (Feb. 5, 2026), https:\/\/www.law360.com\/articles\/2438765?from_lnh=true<\/a> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  26. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  27. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  28. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  29. \u00a0Dana Angelo White, Is It Healthy: Cooking Spray<\/em>, Food Network\u2019s Healthy Eats (May 2013), https:\/\/www.foodnetwork.com\/healthyeats\/2013\/05\/is-it-healthy-cooking-spray<\/a> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  30. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  31. Id.<\/em> \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  32. \u00a0Bianca Ortalano, Decoding Food Labels: Unraveling Regulations and Real Meanings<\/em>, JurisMagazine (April 16, 2024) https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/2024\/04\/16\/decoding-food-labels-unraveling-regulations-and-real-meanings\/<\/a>\u00a0 \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Bianca Ortalano, Editor-in-Chief On September 28, 2020, Roland Esparza (\u201cEsparza\u201d) filed a civil complaint alleging that a certain butter-flavored cooking spray contained hazardous food flavoring components that caused Esparza to suffer from permanent injuries including, but not limited to, bronchiolitis obliterans; severe and progressive damage to the respiratory system; [\u2026] <\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n

    Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15109,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"\u00a0Compl. for Damages \u00b6 19, Sept. 28, 2020.\",\"id\":\"c31a64b3-5e9c-4ce7-ba28-568ca1274952\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6 14.\",\"id\":\"8be35fe3-5045-436f-aca9-826c2feea144\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"0dec8ed5-30ad-40dd-b181-df6cde1be3ee\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em> at 1.\",\"id\":\"30ff7f9e-bcd0-4103-b54a-c7e9ebdfe41a\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id. <\/em>at \u00b6 25.\",\"id\":\"9968578e-e4e1-4181-8822-0f7cacfe47eb\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6 26.\",\"id\":\"726aabdd-8fef-433c-a0a4-4d34ac170110\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Compl. for Damages \u00b6 32, Sept. 28, 2020.\",\"id\":\"dbaadbb5-00e5-4cd3-97e2-285f07ce9130\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6\u00b6 42-43.\",\"id\":\"f11011b3-bc6b-4868-8f51-e3cc1b00468d\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id. <\/em>at \u00b6\u00b6 52-53.\",\"id\":\"6d09d99a-56e9-4c01-8684-4e6feb8d0259\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6\u00b6 63-64.\",\"id\":\"869290bd-4ae0-4e71-9f2a-3bfe3f1b5a2f\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Answer of Defendants Conagra Brands, Inc. and the Vons Companies, Inc. to Plaintiff\u2019s Compl. December 18, 2020.\",\"id\":\"ea9f957a-1b99-4053-bed8-b1904606f708\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"5f8d8e41-59f4-407c-91ca-9a7124026bfd\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em> at 5.\",\"id\":\"62b14f53-1663-46a5-a443-b63fe254a667\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"fa9d2dd0-c5b8-47dc-bed6-f2371d6825dd\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"ac0f2303-95e7-4eb7-9ed0-7059cab9012a\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Special Verdict Form \u00b6\u00b6 14-15, Feb. 4, 2026.\",\"id\":\"e70f16b9-5901-45fc-a868-48e1ca431534\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id.<\/em> at \u00b6 12.\",\"id\":\"f68e2f86-f809-4dd1-83ae-3a5c4ae00c9a\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Gina Kim, Conagra Owes $25M For Man\u2019s Lung Disease From Pam Spray<\/em>, Law360 (Feb. 5, 2026), https:\/\/www.law360.com\/articles\/2438765?from_lnh=true<\/a>\u00a0\",\"id\":\"ee7c4dbb-6d8d-4708-8fe9-3509f8880f13\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Michigan State University, Community Request - Diacetyl<\/em>, Michigan State University (Mar. 31, 2025), https:\/\/cris.msu.edu\/news\/community-request\/community-request-diacetyl\/#:~:text=Diacetyl%20is%20safe%20for%20ingesting,as%20a%20food%20ingredient%20only<\/a>.\u00a0\",\"id\":\"e93b328d-a4ef-452f-8716-2d9eeb59619c\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Annette R. Iannucci & Janet M. Carter, Toxicity of Diacetyl and Structurally Related Flavoring Agents<\/em>, ScienceDirect (2024), https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science\/diacetyl<\/a>\u00a0\",\"id\":\"73900de9-751e-4afb-9433-ca0cb3bb8eab\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"0b3b0734-e962-4dc7-93b0-8b94e7e460c9\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Flavorings and Lung Disease<\/em>, CDC (Feb. 24, 2025), https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/flavoring-related-lung-disease\/about\/index.html#:~:text=Overview,mix%2C%20and%20flavored%20coffee%20industries<\/a>\",\"id\":\"f7fcfa71-c428-4fa9-b028-aa76ef2edc90\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Id.<\/em>; Gina Kim, Conagra Owes $25M For Man\u2019s Lung Disease From Pam Spray<\/em>, Law360 (Feb. 5, 2026), https:\/\/www.law360.com\/articles\/2438765?from_lnh=true<\/a>\",\"id\":\"4cd2c06c-7e6a-4342-ac9e-e969fbe2a77d\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Flavorings and Lung Disease<\/em>, CDC (Feb. 24, 2025), https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/flavoring-related-lung-disease\/about\/index.html#:~:text=Overview,mix%2C%20and%20flavored%20coffee%20industries<\/a>\",\"id\":\"5f2ee523-3914-489f-9702-de35859165d5\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Gina Kim, Conagra Owes $25M For Man\u2019s Lung Disease From Pam Spray<\/em>, Law360 (Feb. 5, 2026), https:\/\/www.law360.com\/articles\/2438765?from_lnh=true<\/a>\",\"id\":\"59365606-26d4-444d-b89c-046f6120ea8d\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"11d9e6e3-5bfd-4a5d-87b0-7a9e9d7440d2\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"886af289-7d6d-4615-8b3e-c922b2b6d360\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"2d6bbf9f-00ce-400d-80bd-1f81bc4f3b55\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Dana Angelo White, Is It Healthy: Cooking Spray<\/em>, Food Network\u2019s Healthy Eats (May 2013), https:\/\/www.foodnetwork.com\/healthyeats\/2013\/05\/is-it-healthy-cooking-spray<\/a>\",\"id\":\"c6d5dfb4-5d54-4391-bf62-0a213ea47245\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"c608d658-5ab7-4901-bc86-bb9612d94392\"},{\"content\":\"Id.<\/em>\",\"id\":\"6902a0e0-bd44-4d4c-9bbc-f2af44c60afe\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0Bianca Ortalano, Decoding Food Labels: Unraveling Regulations and Real Meanings<\/em>, JurisMagazine (April 16, 2024) https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/2024\/04\/16\/decoding-food-labels-unraveling-regulations-and-real-meanings\/<\/a>\u00a0\",\"id\":\"a9a3df30-688d-469d-a5ed-348669d65523\"}]"},"categories":[2092,7],"tags":[4073,1807,348,4071,4074,3762],"class_list":["post-15108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features-articles","category-juris-features","tag-cooking","tag-fda","tag-health-and-safety","tag-pam","tag-strict-products-liability","tag-tort-law"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15108"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15112,"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15108\/revisions\/15112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.law.duq.edu\/juris\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}