A California jury just handed down a $25 million verdict against a major food corporation for selling a cooking spray that destroyed a man’s lungs—proving that corporate negligence has real consequences when Americans are poisoned by products marketed as safe and healthy.
Story Highlights
- Roland Esparza awarded $25 million after PAM cooking spray caused irreversible “popcorn lung” disease requiring double lung transplant
- Conagra Brands failed to warn consumers about toxic diacetyl ingredient despite knowing health risks from inhalation
- Company removed dangerous chemical in 2009 but only after decades of consumer exposure and worker illness in food industry
- Verdict establishes accountability for corporations hiding health dangers on everyday household products
Jury Holds Conagra Accountable for Toxic Product
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded Roland Esparza $25 million after finding Conagra Brands negligent for failing to warn consumers about the serious health risks of inhaling fumes from PAM butter-flavored cooking spray. The 58-year-old California man developed bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly called “popcorn lung,” after using the product multiple times daily since the 1990s. Conagra knew diacetyl caused severe respiratory damage in workers exposed to the chemical but never adequately warned everyday Americans using their product in home kitchens. This verdict represents a significant victory for consumer protection against corporate negligence.
Decades of Exposure to Hidden Chemical Danger
Esparza believed he was making healthy cooking choices consistent with his fitness-focused lifestyle when he regularly used PAM butter spray beginning in the 1990s. The product contained diacetyl, a butter-flavoring chemical that causes irreversible lung damage when inhaled. Workers in the microwave popcorn industry had already developed the same devastating condition from breathing diacetyl vapors, establishing the clear connection between this chemical and permanent respiratory disease. Despite this known occupational hazard, Conagra continued selling the product to unsuspecting consumers without proper warnings about inhalation risks. The company finally removed diacetyl from PAM spray in 2009, but only after years of exposing millions of Americans to toxic fumes.
Permanent Health Destruction Requires Lung Transplant
Esparza now faces a desperate medical situation requiring a double lung transplant, with his attorney Jacob Plattenberger emphasizing that time is critical for his client’s survival. The disease has permanently damaged his respiratory system beyond repair, leaving transplantation as the only hope for extending his life. Plattenberger stated that while the $25 million verdict provides financial compensation, “nothing will give him his health back.” This case demonstrates the real human cost when corporations prioritize profits over consumer safety, leaving hardworking Americans to suffer irreversible health consequences from products they trusted.
Company Disputes Verdict Despite Removing Toxic Ingredient
Conagra responded to the verdict by stating it “disagreed with the decision and was disappointed with the outcome,” claiming PAM Butter Flavor cooking spray is now safe and has been diacetyl-free for nearly two decades. The company announced its intention to pursue all available legal avenues to contest the verdict. This response highlights a troubling pattern where corporations remove dangerous ingredients only after public exposure while refusing accountability for the harm already inflicted on consumers. The jury clearly rejected Conagra’s arguments, finding the company failed its duty to protect Americans from known chemical hazards in everyday household products.
Broader Implications for Consumer Protection
This verdict establishes important precedent for holding manufacturers accountable when they hide health dangers from consumers, particularly regarding inhalation risks from aerosol products used in enclosed spaces like kitchens. The case may prompt other Americans who used PAM butter spray during the diacetyl period to pursue legal action for their own health injuries. It also raises serious questions about regulatory oversight of chemical additives in consumer products and whether government agencies adequately protect families from corporate malfeasance. The verdict demonstrates that when regulatory systems fail, juries of everyday Americans can still deliver justice and force accountability for poisoning the public.
Sources:
US Man Awarded Rs 226 Crore Over Chronic Lung Disease Linked to Popular Cooking Spray
