Lawsuits have been filed by a growing number of people who were severely burned in explosions of PAM Cooking Spray.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting PAM Cooking Spray induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or burned by an exploding can of PAM Cooking Spray, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: 33 Lawsuits Filed by Cooking Spray Burn Victims
Between May and September 2019, at least 33 lawsuits were filed against Conagra by people who were burned by PAM Cooking Spray and similar products, including Sysco Member’s Mark®, Wellsley Farms® and Simply Value® cooking spray. Conagra stopped production of the allegedly defective can, but did not issue a recall.
Cooking Spray Lawsuits Filed by Texas Plaintiffs
One lawsuit was filed by Edward O., a man who claims he was burned while using a Member’s Mark cooking spray he bought at Sam’s Wholesale. He had to be airlifted to a hospital in Texas and placed into a medically-induced coma for 20 days.
Another lawsuit was filed by twin sisters who claim they were burned by an exploding cooking spray can while working at a Texas restaurant. They were both hospitalized and one sister required skin grafts.
Cans of PAM Cooking Spray Are Exploding And Causing Severe Burns
In 2017, an explosion of PAM Cooking Spray at Baja Grill in Houston, Texas was captured on surveillance video. The victim, Reveriano Duran, working as a cook with a can of PAM near the grill when it exploded into a massive fireball. The lawsuit claims the can sprayed flammable gases through vents on the bottom when it caught on fire.
PAM Cooking Spray Lawsuits
May 2019 — A woman from Texas is among 8 people who have filed lawsuits against ConAgra after they were severely burned by exploding cans of PAM Cooking Spray, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The lawsuit was filed by Y’Tesia Taylor of Greenville, Texas, who suffered burns, scarring, disfigurement, blindness in her right eye, lung damage, and lost her job as a hotel night manager due to her scars.
The explosion occurred after she put a can of PAM on a rolling wooden cart adjacent to the stove, according to the lawsuit. After placing a peach cobbler in the oven and closing the door, she heard a loud noise:
“The canister suddenly and without warning began spraying its extremely flammable contents through the u-shaped vents on the bottom of the can and exploded into flames.”
Taylor said she suffered 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns on 27% of her upper body and spent more than a week in a medically induced coma.
What is the Problem?
Warning labels on PAM tell consumers not to leave the product on stoves or near heat sources. However, lawsuits say the problem is that canisters of PAM are venting highly-flammable propellants at lower temperatures and causing dangerous explosions.
Is It a Design Defect?
In 2016, the manufacturer of PAM Cooking Spray re-designed certain aerosol cans with U-shaped vents at the bottom. The vents were supposed to open and release pressure when overheated. Instead, lawsuits claim the vents can open during storage and common use, emitting flammable propellants like propane and butane.
Controversial U-Shaped Vent Design
ConAgra discontinued the U-shaped vent design in early 2019, but stands by the products’ safety. The vented can design is no longer in production. Furthermore, the vast majority of PAM Cooking Spray cans do not have the vented design. The cans with vents are typically found in bulk-size cans of at least 10 ounces and sold in 2-packs.
ConAgra Defends Safety of PAM
ConAgra, the manufacturer of PAM Cooking Spray, claims it is a 100% safe and effective product when used correctly.
“All PAM Cooking Sprays include clear instructions on both the front and back of the packaging alerting consumers that the product should be used responsibly as it is flammable, and that it should not be left on a stove or near a heat source, should not be sprayed near an open flame, and should not be stored above 120°F.
Do I have a PAM Cooking Spray Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting PAM Cooking Spray induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or burned by an exploding can of PAM Cooking Spray, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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