Peanut Butter Food Poisoning Lawsuits
Last Updated: January 2009 • 23 Comments
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A salmonella food poisoning outbreak which began to surface in September 2008 has been linked to contaminated peanut butter served at nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other food service institutions, as well as peanut paste used to make various brands of peanut butter cracker, peanut butter cookies and other products containing peanut butter.
STATUS OF PEANUT BUTTER LAWSUITS: The source of the contamination has been traced to a peanut processing plant in Georgia operated by Peanut Corporation of America. Peanut butter lawsuits have been filed, and food poisoning lawyers are continuing to review potential cases for individuals diagnosed with an illness caused by Salmonella typhimurium.
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OVERVIEW: First reports of illness associated with the peanut butter food poisoning outbreak began to surface in September 2008, with most cases occurring between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.
As of January 27, 2009, over 500 reports of salmonella food poisoning have been repored in 43 states involving the same strain of bacteria. More than 100 people have been hospitalized and at least 8 salmonella deaths have been linked to contaminated peanut butter.
The source of the salmonella contamination has been traced to peanut butter and peanut paste manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America at their processing plant in Blakely, Georgia. Salmonella typhimurium has been found in containers of peanut butter sealed at the plant, crackers made from peanut paste produced at the plant and subsequent investigations by federal health officials has identified the bacteria inside the facility.
Symptoms of salmonella peanut butter food poisoning can surface within 12 to 72 hours after consuming the food, with symptoms typically including:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal Cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
PEANUT BUTTER AT HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, SCHOOLS On January 10, 2009, a peanut butter recall was issued by King Nut Companies for over 1,000 large tubs between 5 pounds and 50 pounds. The containers were manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America and distributed under the King Nut and Parnell’s Pride brand names to nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other food service institutions in Ohio, Michigan, North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona, Idaho, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Florida.
The contamination of peanut butter at nursing homes, hospitals and schools posed a particular health risk, since elderly, children and those with a weak immune system are at an increase risk for salmonella food poisoning, which could result in hospitalization or potentially be fatal.
OTHER PEANUT BUTTER RECALLS Peanut paste manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America at the same plant was also sold to manufacturers of crackers, cookies, ice cream and other products.
As of January 27, 2009, nearly 400 different products have been impacted by peanut butter recalls, including:
- Austin Peanut Butter Crackers
- Keebler Peanut Butter Crackers
- Famous Amos Peanut butter Cookies
- Keebler Peanut Butter Cookies
- Perry’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
- Shurfine Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
- Wegmans Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Little Debbie Peanut Butter Crackers
- South Bend Chocolate and Fudge with Peanut Butter
- Food Lion Peanut Butter Cookies
- Lofthouse Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chuck’s Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies
- Pastries Plus Gourmet Cookies
- Wal-Mart Peanut Butter Cookies
- PetSmart Great Choice Dog Biscuits
- Weis Market Brand Peanut Butter Crackers
- Abbott Nutrition Peanut Butter Bars
- Hy-Vee Peanut Butter Cookies
- Meijer Peanut Butter Crackers and Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream
- Clif and Luna Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bars
- Classic Breaks Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
- Nature’s Path Peanut Butter Optimum Energy Bars
- NutriSystem Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Ready Pac and Trader Joe’s Celery with Peanut Butter
- Poco Pac and Grande Gourmet Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter and Jelly Products
- Twisted and Titan Brand Bars containing Peanut Butter
- Blanton’s Candies Peanut Butter Sticks
- Landies Peanut Butter Filled Chocolates
- Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars
- Best Brands Peanut Butter Frozen Cookie Dough
Pingback by Peanut Butter Recall Issued Due to Salmonella : AboutLawsuits.com on 12 January 2009:
[...] of the tubs. The peanut butter recall comes as the CDC is investigating the cause of a nationwide salmonella food poisoning outbreak that started to emerge in September [...]
Pingback by Recalled Peanut Butter Linked to Georgia Plant : AboutLawsuits.com on 16 January 2009:
[...] first reports of the salmonella peanut butter food poisoning started to appear in September 2008, with most of the confirmed cases occurring between October 1, [...]
Pingback by Peanut Butter Salmonella Recall Expanded to Include Crackers, Cookies : AboutLawsuits.com on 19 January 2009:
[...] Peanut butter salmonella food poisoning could result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever or abdominal cramps, with symptoms often appearing within 12 to 72 hours and lasting from 4 to 7 days. [...]
Comment by Billie on 21 January 2009:
I am seriously wondering whether or not Herr’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels are included in this out break of salmonella. After eating these pretzels, I haven’t been feeling too well. This morning I am very nauseated, along with stomach cramps. Has anyone heard that Herr’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels are contaminated?
Pingback by Peanut Butter Salmonella Deaths and Injuries Lead to Lawsuits : AboutLawsuits.com on 21 January 2009:
[...] to the Perham Enterprise Bulletin, Almer’s family is making preparations to file a peanut butter food poisoning lawsuit against the manufacturer. She was in a weakened state when she was given the peanut butter, as a [...]
Comment by kieran on 21 January 2009:
My daughter was stricken with salmonella in Redmond, Oregon in September, 2008, after eating Kung Pao chicken at a chinese restaurant. The restaurant will not offer her any relief, but I believe the medical records will show she complained that the sickness started immediately after that meal.
Comment by me on 23 January 2009:
as per the Herr’s website, their products are NOT included in the recall.
Pingback by Peanut Butter Recalls Involve Over 180 Products Linked to One Processing Plant : AboutLawsuits.com on 23 January 2009:
[...] nationwide peanut butter recalls issued as a result of the recent salmonella food poisoning outbreak now involves over 180 products [...]
Comment by Carla on 24 January 2009:
I was in the hospital for 5 days after eating a peanut butter cracker.
I am still very sick. Doctors think i may have Salmonella poisoning
Comment by Crystal on 26 January 2009:
I too would like to know about the Herr’s peanut butter filled pretzels. We usually have big jars of them around our office and are trying to find out if what we now have is safe or not. It would be nice if Herr’s put out a recall or statement saying they are safe. Either way, we’d like to know.
Comment by pblover on 26 January 2009:
http://www.herrs.com/WhatsNew/PBConcern.html
Pingback by Peanut Butter Lawsuit Filed Over Salmonella Death in Nursing Home : AboutLawsuits.com on 28 January 2009:
[...] the food poisoning death of a 72 year old woman, a peanut butter lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturer of peanut butter served at the nursing home where she was [...]
Comment by Chauna on 29 January 2009:
I want to know if something will be done as far as a class action suit or something and I would like to be a part of this. I was eating the Austin brand cookies when the recall came across CNN. These people should pay for putting their peanut butter on the market knowing that it was tainted. They have been paid by thier suppliers and we have purchased their product. Thay need to fix the situation.
Comment by Rhonda on 29 January 2009:
My 13 year old son was having nausea and diarreha for a few days when I heard about the reacall of the Austin cracker. When I went to my kitchen cabinet and found that the Austin crackers I had purchased a couple of weeks earlier were all gone. I asked my son when was the last time he had eaten any of them he told me he hadn’t felt well the last few days so that is all he felt like eating. I took him the the doctor and was to told it was not that simple to diagnose salmaonella. The doctor drew blood and started my son on a wide spectrum antibiotic and an anti diarrehal medication. That was nine days ago. My son is slowly feeling better but still not well. I do not have health insurance or I would have taken him to the hospital. I still am not sure that he is ok.
We should be able to trust the food we purchase is safe.
Pingback by Peanut Recalls Lead to Criminal Probe of Processing Plant : AboutLawsuits.com on 2 February 2009:
[...] criminal investigation into the manufacturing practices at the Georgia processing plant which made contaminated peanut butter and peanut paste which have caused hundreds of people throughout the United States to suffer salmonella food [...]
Comment by Elouise on 7 February 2009:
My daughter purchase a Snicker ice cream from the store I work at. She got sick that night and she had a diarrha, fever, cramps and vomiting. We thought she just got a cold so we did not take her to the clinic. I was of for three days and i came back to work, there was a recall for Snicker Ice cream. I know she got sick from the ice cream she bought from the store.
Pingback by Peanut Butter Cracker Lawsuit Filed Against Kellogg Over Salmonella : AboutLawsuits.com on 9 February 2009:
[...] peanut butter cracker lawsuit was filed by a Vermont family on behalf of their 7 year old son who was hospitalized for five days [...]
Pingback by Salmonella Death Confirmed by Ohio Officials: 9th Peanut Butter Death : AboutLawsuits.com on 12 February 2009:
[...] 1,900 different peanut recalls have been issued for products that contain peanut butter, peanut paste or other ingredients [...]
Comment by Mad Father on 14 February 2009:
I purchased Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut Granola Bars made by General Mills. They have made me extremely sick. I have not worked in 2 weeks and just TODAY 2/13/2009 General Mills admits a recall of the same bar under a smaller companies name. I want 10 million dollars in suffering with diarrha, mucas and bloody stools for 5 weeks now. An Endoscopy results a UC problem. It has been found that Salmonella causes UC. General Mills you better hope I don’t die.
Comment by melissa on 17 February 2009:
Has the capn crunch peanut butter cereal been included in the recall? my son ate some at 730 pm and woke up at 430 am with severe stomach cramps ,diarrah, vomiting, and a fever. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I called the number on the box of cereal and the recording said that their products are safe but Im second guessing this.
Comment by Darlene on 25 February 2009:
Hello, We have some pretzels filled with penut butter at our offices that we ordered from Staples Office Products. I am freaking because of this peanut butter issues. Does anyone have any info on HK Anderson Peanut Butter Filled Nugets Expiration Date May O8 09???
Comment by CLAYTON on 9 March 2009:
I ate a peanut cracker and got deathly sick with severe stomach cramps,diarrah,vomiting and went to hospital, lasted for week’s. i saved a package of Austin crackers in a sealed plastic bag. I’VE tryed many times to call company left many messages and never retured my call’s, is there a lawsuit out that i can file against them ! I want to throw it away the package of crackers but keeping them incase i need them.
Comment by robert on 23 March 2009:
is lady’s choice peanut butter from unilever philippines is contaminated with salmonella? pls answer me..any reported..here in philippines?