A California man’s quest for healthy cooking destroyed his lungs forever, earning him $25 million in damages after a major food corporation failed to warn consumers about toxic fumes lurking in their trusted kitchen staple.
Story Highlights
- Roland Esparza awarded $25 million after developing “popcorn lung” from PAM butter-flavored cooking spray used since the 1990s
- Jury found Conagra Brands negligent for failing to warn consumers about diacetyl inhalation dangers
- Company removed toxic ingredient in 2009, but only after years of consumer exposure
- Esparza now requires double lung transplant, with time running out for his medical survival
Corporate Negligence Leaves Consumer Fighting for Survival
Roland Esparza, a 58-year-old health-conscious California resident, trusted PAM butter-flavored cooking spray as part of his fitness lifestyle for decades. A Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded him $25 million after determining Conagra Brands failed to adequately warn consumers about the severe health risks of inhaling fumes from their product. Esparza developed bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as “popcorn lung,” an irreversible respiratory disease requiring a double lung transplant. His attorney Jacob Plattenberger emphasized that no amount of money can restore his client’s health, with time being critical for placement on a transplant list.
Decades of Exposure to Hidden Chemical Danger
Esparza began using PAM butter spray multiple times daily starting in the 1990s, believing it was a healthier cooking alternative. The product contained diacetyl, a chemical flavoring agent that causes severe lung damage when inhaled. This toxic compound became notorious through occupational health studies in the microwave popcorn industry, where workers developed the same debilitating condition. Conagra discontinued diacetyl in PAM spray in 2009, but only after Esparza and countless other consumers had already experienced years of exposure. The company’s delayed action raises serious questions about when they knew about the dangers and why adequate warnings weren’t provided earlier.
Company Defends Product Despite Jury Verdict
Conagra Brands responded to the verdict by expressing disappointment and disagreement with the jury’s decision. The company stated that PAM Butter Flavor cooking spray is currently safe and has been diacetyl-free for nearly two decades, indicating plans to pursue all available legal avenues to contest the verdict. This defense strategy ignores the fundamental issue: consumers like Esparza were never properly warned about inhalation risks during the years when the harmful ingredient was present. The corporate response demonstrates a troubling lack of accountability for past failures, prioritizing legal positioning over acknowledging responsibility for preventable health damage to everyday Americans who trusted their product.
Implications for Consumer Safety and Corporate Accountability
This verdict establishes important precedent for holding manufacturers accountable when they fail to provide adequate warnings about inhalation hazards from household products. The case highlights a broader concern about chemical safety in everyday consumer goods and the sufficiency of warning labels on items that pose hidden risks. Other consumers who used PAM butter spray during the diacetyl period may now pursue similar legal action. The food and consumer product industries should take notice: companies cannot simply reformulate dangerous products and escape liability for years of inadequate warnings. American families deserve transparency about potential health risks in products they bring into their homes and use around their children.
The $25 million award reflects the jury’s recognition that Esparza’s suffering represents more than financial damages—it’s about a life forever altered by corporate negligence. While Conagra removed the harmful ingredient years ago, this action came too late for Esparza and potentially thousands of other consumers who trusted a major American brand with their health. This case serves as a stark reminder that consumer protection requires vigilance, transparency, and accountability from corporations, not just reactive reformulations after the damage is done.
Sources:
US Man Awarded Rs 226 Crore Over Chronic Lung Disease Linked to Popular Cooking Spray
