In a significant legal ruling, a jury in Illinois has directed Conagra Brands, headquartered in Chicago, to pay $7.1 million in damages to Tammy Reese, a resident of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The verdict, delivered on Monday, follows a horrifying incident in 2017 when a can of commercial cooking spray, a Conagra-made product, ignited in a kitchen at Reese’s workplace, leaving her severely burned.

The incident occurred when Reese was working at a social club kitchen in May 2017. According to the lawsuit filed on her behalf, a can of Swell cooking spray unexpectedly and violently exploded into a fireball, resulting in extensive burns and injuries. Reese suffered deep second-degree burns on her head, face, arms, and hands. Even six years later, scar tissue from the burns continues to limit her movement, as stated by one of her attorneys, Craig Smith.

The jury’s decision is particularly significant as it marks the first in a series of similar cases across the country involving burn victims who experienced accidents with Conagra-made cooking spray brands, including the popular grocery store brand Pam. These victims have cited incidents resembling Reese’s, where the cooking spray cans allegedly malfunctioned, causing severe injuries.

According to the verdict from the Cook County Circuit Court, Conagra Brands is liable for compensatory damages totaling $3.1 million and an additional $4 million in punitive damages to be paid to Reese. It’s noteworthy that Conagra Brands is the parent company of several well-known food brands, including Pam, Marie Callender’s, Reddi-wip, Swiss Miss, Hunt’s, Chef Boyardee, and Slim Jim.

This ruling raises concerns about the safety standards and quality control measures in the production of commercial cooking spray products. The incident has not only highlighted the devastating consequences for individuals like Tammy Reese but also underscores the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure the safety of their products. As the legal proceedings unfold, this case is likely to have a lasting impact on consumer safety regulations and corporate accountability within the food industry.