Conagra Ordered to Pay $25M in Pam Cooking Spray Lawsuit

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A Los Angeles jury has awarded a man $25 million in a lawsuit against Conagra, the maker of Pam cooking spray. The lawsuit alleged that Conagra's butter-flavored Pam spray caused the man to develop a rare chronic lung disease that will require a double lung transplant, and that the company failed to adequately warn consumers of this risk.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of consumer product safety and the responsibility of manufacturers to provide clear warnings about potential health risks associated with their products. The large monetary award also signals that juries are willing to hold companies accountable when they fail to protect public health.

The details

The lawsuit claimed that the plaintiff, a health-conscious bodybuilder and martial artist, developed a rare lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans after regularly using Conagra's butter-flavored Pam cooking spray. The condition has left him in need of a double lung transplant. The jury found that Conagra did not adequately warn consumers about the potential lung disease risk from the spray's chemical composition.

• The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles.
• The jury reached its $25 million verdict last week.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to uphold or reduce the $25 million jury award.