It's the first thing many home cooks reach for when cooking, baking or grilling. But a series of new lawsuits filed against the company that makes the popular cooking spray Pam has many questioning whether this pantry staple is potentially hazardous. The eight plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against Conagra Brands on Tuesday have alleged that exploding cans of cooking spray caused severe injuries, including third-degree burns, disfigurement and even blindness. In all of the cases, the cans, which included the brand Pam, reportedly exploded or "erupted" as the users were cooking. However, Dan Hare, Conagra Brands' Senior Director of Communication and External Relations, issued the following statement to TODAY Food regarding the new lawsuits: "When Pam is used correctly, as instructed, it is a 100-percent safe and effective product. Pam Cooking Spray is used safely and properly by millions of people several times a day, every single day." So, is there a problem? Before tossing out that cooking spray — or investing in a new kitchen fire extinguisher — here's what you need to know about cooking oils that come in cans. What is PAM? Billie Schaff Pam, which is an acronym for "Product of Arthur Meyerhoff" (one of the inventors of Pam), became a household name in the 1960s when consumers were seeking out alternatives for butter or margarine to sauté foods. Conagra Brands, the Chicago-based parent company of major food labels like Duncan Hines, Birds Eye and Vlasic, bought Pam in 2000. Today, while there are several different varieties, Pam's original formula contains canola oil, palm oil, coconut oil, lecithin from soybeans, dimethyl silicone, rosemary extract and propellant. In food terms, a propellant is a chemical agent that allows something to be easily propelled or sprayed, like a gas or alcohol. Why cooking spray is flammable According to the lawsuits, "The contents of the canister of Pam Cooking Spray at issue included not only cooking oil, but also propellants, including extremely flammable materials such as propane and butane." When asked what specific propellant is used in Pam, Hare would not confirm whether propane or butane are, or have ever been, ingredients in the spray, but said, "The propellant is a food-grade and has been approved by the USDA and it is the industry standard used by other manufacturers." Most cooking sprays, regardless of the brand, include propellants. It's what makes them so convenient to use and allows the oil to be sprayed consistently and evenly. However, when these propellants get too close to a heat source, they can easily combust. The six plaintiffs, including two sets of couples who were cooking together, are claiming that they were burned while using cans of cooking spray sold under the brand names Pam, Wellsley Farms and Sysco, all of which are made by Conagra. An example of the U-vent design on the bottom of a can of cooking spray. Rochelle Streber According to J. Craig Smith, the lawyer representing the accusers, the main issue isn't just about what's in the cooking spray, but also the cooking spray cans themselves. All of the alleged instances — which took place in different states over the past two years — involved larger cans of cooking spray. The lawsuit states that in 2011, Conagra implemented a new design for cans containing more than 10 ounces of product. These are the cans typically sold at big-box retailers like BJ's Wholesale Club which, according to one of the plaintiffs, sold the vented cans under the Wellsley Farms brand. Standard cans of Pam are between 5 and 6 ounces. That design included a "venting mechanism on the bottom of the can — visible as four U-shaped score marks — intended to allow the container to vent its flammable contents in a controlled manner," reads a press release from the law firm. "The plaintiffs in these six cases have alleged that the design of the cans is faulty, dangerous and prone to explosion." Ashley Swopes Earlier this year, Conagra changed the design of its larger cans again to eliminate the U-vents. Hare told TODAY that the switch was not implemented because of a faulty design or any previous customer complaints. The company, according to Hare, simply wanted to have one standardized can design for all of its cooking sprays. But some of the cans with the U-vent design still remain on store shelves today and now the plaintiffs are asking for a recall. “Perhaps more alarming is the fact that, to this day, Conagra apparently refuses to institute a nationwide recall to ensure that the defective cans sitting on store shelves right now are removed before someone else suffers permanent injury from an explosion," Smith said in a statement. "Each day that these cans remain on store shelves, Conagra’s negligence puts consumers in danger.” Y’tesia Taylor, one of the plaintiffs, claims that she was baking in her home kitchen when a can of Pam (which was not directly next to the stove) burst open and allegedly started spraying its contents out of the vents at the bottom of the can. The can then burst into flames and, as a result, her kitchen caught fire. During the incident, she sustained severe burns. The same thing allegedly happened to four other plaintiffs when they were cooking at their stoves. One of the plaintiffs, Reveriano Duran (who is a professional cook), was working in a restaurant kitchen when a can of cooking spray exploded. Most of the plaintiffs suffered severe burns and required skin grafts. According to her lawyer, Taylor spent two weeks in a medically-induced coma. One of her contact lenses also reportedly burned onto her eyeball and she is now currently blind in that eye. Y'tesia Taylor What consumers need to know Conagra Brands says that its top priority is consumer safety. In the wake of the lawsuits, the company still fully stands behind all versions of its best-selling product. When asked about the possibility of a product recall, Hare said that while he's unable to comment on the specifics of current pending litigation, he stressed that it's important for all consumers to note the high number of cans that have been successfully used by the vast majority of consumers for over 50 years. Within that timespan, the company has very rarely received complaints about its cooking sprays. With regards to the products' safety, Hare added that every can of Pam comes with clear warning labels about its flammable nature, as well as instructions on proper use. Conagra "All Pam Cooking Sprays include large, clear instructions, warnings and cautions on both the front and back of the packaging," said Hare. These labels are there to remind consumers to use the product responsibly, which includes not leaving the can on a stove or near a heat source. When asked what qualifies as “near” a heat a source, Hare said that Conagra is currently unable to provide details since it can be difficult to measure. Heat within any space varies greatly depending on the source, room ventilation, room size and many other factors. The warning label also cautions against storing the can in places where temperatures can rise above 120 degrees. Conagra If you are concerned that your can of Pam may be hazardous, Consumer Reports is advising people to reach out to Conagra directly. "Consumers should be concerned about any product that spontaneously leaks or sprays out flammable liquids or materials," James Dickerson, Chief Scientific Officer for Consumer Reports, told TODAY by email. "The Pam cooking spray containers that possess a 'U-shaped release valve' appear to be one of those products." Conagra has not issued a recall on any of the products named in the lawsuits, but Dickerson also advised home cooks to always pay attention to the exterior condition of any canned goods or sprays. "Consumers should not purchase or use cans of cooking spray (or any other canned products that are under pressure) if those containers are dented, damaged, or bulging," said Dickerson. Consumers in possession of any such items should discard them immediately.<doc-sep>Not Pam, but this is the best Getty Images will do. Photo : DGLimages ( Getty Images ) Just this week—just this week!—I did a potentially foolish act by spraying Pam cooking spray onto the grilling gates with live fire underneath. It was my first time grilling a whole fish, and one of the suggestions was to spray cooking spray on both the grilling surface and the fish to ensure it won’t stick on one another. When I sprayed? Whoosh! Flames shot out from underneath. It was totally badass and totally irresponsible. Advertisement I was reminded just how dumb this was when I read in the Chicago Tribune that Conagra, maker of Pam cooking spray, was facing six lawsuits that alleged a faulty can design caused severe burns to users’ skin. According to the Tribune, Conagra manufactured a can with a vent on the underside that relieved pressure anytime it was overheated. One of the plaintiffs quoted in the story said she placed the Pam near a stove, at which point she heard a loud noise, cooking spray began coming out of the bottom of the can and “exploded into flames.” The woman said she suffered burns on 27% of her body and was in a medically induced coma for a week. To be clear, the alleged faulty can designs were phased out last year. And though news of this lawsuit and my stupidity are only tangentially related, let it be a lesson: Don’t be a dum-dum like me and spray anything flammable into an open fire. Read more about this story in the Chicago Tribune.<doc-sep>DETROIT — Eight burn victims sued the maker of Pam cooking spray Tuesday, saying they were severely injured when cans of the spray exploded in their kitchens. The plaintiffs' attorney, J. Craig Smith, says larger cans of Pam and similar cooking sprays made by Conagra Brands have a faulty, U-shaped vent system in the bottom that makes them prone to explosion. In one case, a victim said the fire was so intense that it burned her contact lens onto her right eye, causing near-blindness. Vented cans are 10 ounces or larger, not the 6-ounce variety usually sold at groceries. The bigger cans may be found at warehouse stores like Costco as well as Walmart and Amazon. One of the lawsuits was filed by a cook who was using Sysco-brand cooking spray at a restaurant in Texas. Chicago-based Conagra says the vent system was used on a "limited" number of cans but was eliminated during a product redesign earlier this year. The redesign was not related to the lawsuits and was part of an effort to standardize the company's cans, Conagra said. Pam brand cooking spray in a supermarket in 2011. Daniel Acker / Bloomberg via Getty Images file Conagra says Pam and other cooking sprays have clear warning labels on the front and back telling consumers the product is flammable and should not be left on or near a stove or heat source. Cooking spray shouldn't be stored above 120 degrees or sprayed near an open flame, the company said. "When Pam is used correctly, as instructed, it is a 100% safe and effective product," Conagra said in a statement. The company noted that it has been selling Pam for more than 50 years. Jon Harris, Conagra's senior vice president and head of corporate communications, said he couldn't comment on the specifics of the lawsuits. "We're looking forward to our day in court," Harris said. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday it's aware of the lawsuits and is looking into the issue. Smith filed six separate lawsuits Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. Two of the lawsuits represent couples who were injured while cooking together. Smith has filed three previous lawsuits against Conagra on behalf of burn victims. Two are still in litigation. One was dismissed in January; a spokesman for Smith said he couldn't comment on that case. Several other cases have been filed against Conagra by burn victims, including one in Louisiana in 2017 and another in Ohio last year.<doc-sep>
At least eight burn victims have sued the maker of Pam cooking spray, claiming that they were severely injured when the cans exploded in their kitchens, CBS New York reports. Attorneys claim that one kitchen explosion was even caught on video. The incidents involved Pam cooking spray or similar products from Conagra Brands that may have an allegedly faulty, U-shaped vent system in the bottom — a design the company says it has phased out. The lawsuits claim the sprays are not safe, but Conagra disagrees. "All I do is cry and wonder 'Why me?'" Maria Mariani told CBS New York. Mariani, of Staten Island, New York, recently was released after spending a month in the hospital. She survived burns covering nearly 30 percent of her body and three surgeries. She claims it's all because of a can of Wellsley Farms Cooking Spray, manufactured by the makers of Pam. "It was the scariest thing ever. I was confused, scared, I didn't know what to do," Mariani said. Maria Mariani told CBS New York how she was hospitalized after a can of cooking spray manufactured by Conagra Brands exploded in the kitchen she was working in, on Staten Island. CBS News Mariani said on April 5, she had turned on the stove burners to help heat her mom's apartment and a short time later a can of cooking spray just inches away exploded. "It was in the corner," Mariani said. "The burners were on ... I was walking with the burners on and I went to go [shut off the burner] and everything just exploded." Mariani is now suing Conagra, which manufactures Pam and other similar cooking sprays. Hers is one of six lawsuits filed Tuesday across the country. The law firm released video they say shows a can of Pam exploding in a restaurant in Houston. The cook was engulfed and left with serious injuries. The attorneys say the cooking spray was on a shelf in front of the grill. The cans in question, the attorneys say, usually hold 10 ounces or more and have a special venting mechanism and are sold at wholesale stores like Costco, not the smaller cans typically sold in supermarkets. But in a statement to CBS New York, Conagra said it stands by all of its products: Please know the safety of our products and our consumers is always our top priority. When PAM is used correctly, as instructed, it is a 100-percent safe and effective product. PAM Cooking Sprays is used safely and properly by millions of people several times a day, every single day. The product has been used for more than 50 years for the baking, grilling and cooking needs of consumers everywhere. All PAM Cooking Sprays include large, clear instructions, warnings and cautions 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. The vented can design in question, was used in market on a limited number of cans over the last several years. We redesign packaging in the ordinary course of business, and just as we introduced the vented can years ago, we removed it from production, earlier this year, as we sought to standardize our cans across the entire aerosol cooking spray product line. So, that design is no longer in production. We fully stand by this product. To reiterate, when PAM is used correctly, as instructed, it is a 100-percent safe and effective product. The company points to the warning labels on the product, which say, "Can may burst if left on stove or near heat source." Conagra said in the normal course of business it stopped producing the larger vented cans earlier this year, and insists any still on store shelves are safe if used properly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it's aware of the lawsuits and is looking into the issue.