Jif Peanut Butter Lawsuit Filed Over Salmonella Food Poisoning Risks

Following several Jif peanut butter recalls, a class action lawsuit has been filed against J.M. Smucker Company, alleging products were falsely advertised as safe for consumption, which placed consumers at risk of serious and potential fatal food poisoning injuries.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by John Kraljevich in the United States District Court Eastern District of Kentucky on May 25, alleging that J.M. Smucker Company sold contaminated peanut butter products that have caused more than a dozen salmonella infections across the U.S.

Salmonella food poisoning can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and elderly people, or those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

In some cases, the bacteria can travel into the bloodstream and lead to more severe illness such as aneurysm, endocarditis, and arthritis. Generally healthy people recover from Salmonella infection in about seven to 10 days.

JM Smucker first issued a peanut butter recall on May 20, warning various types of peanut butter in a range of package sizes may have become contaminated with salmonella at a Smucker manufacturing facility in Lexington, Kentucky. The announcement indicated least 14 people from a dozen different states reported food poisoning illnesses after consuming Jif peanut butter, with at least two severe illnesses resulting in hospitalization.

To date, the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are actively monitoring the Jif peanut butter salmonella outbreak, and are warning consumer to stop consuming and discard any potentially contaminated peanut butter products that have been recalled.

The Jiff peanut butter class action lawsuit raises allegations that Smucker’s negligently manufactured and distributed peanut butter products contaminated with salmonella, which is a serious and sometimes fatal foodborne illness.

Kraljevich claims Smucker’s knew or should have known that the final products manufactured for sale to consumers were contaminated, and failed to put proper testing measures in place to ensure public safety.

The lawsuit further claims Smucker’s falsely labels and advertised its Jif peanut butter products, stated Smucker’s “promoted as containing ingredients safe for human consumption and being safe for use, when, in fact, they cause bacterial infections, gastrointestinal illnesses and other illnesses resulting from Salmonella contamination.

Kraljevich’s Jif lawsuit seeks class action status to pursue damages for all persons who have purchased Jif peanut butter products sold in the United States between February, 2022 and May, 2022. Among other allegations raised in the lawsuit against Smucker’s include negligence, fraudulent concealment, breach of warranties and unjust enrichment.

Jif Peanut Butter Salmonella Recalls

Since the original Jif peanut butter recall on May 20, a series of additional products have been identified that contained the same contaminated peanut butter.

A Giant Eagle recall was issued on May 28, indicating that multiple bakery items containing recalled Jif peanut butter were sold at three Pennsylvania supermarkets in Ebensburg, Indiana and Northern Cambria.

A Safeway Fresh Foods recall was also announced on May 28, instructing customers to stop consuming and discard certain Apple and Peanut Butter 12/5.1 oz cases distributed in New Jersey to Quick Chek retail stores. The recall indicates the products were potentially made with ingredients from recalled Jif peanut butter products.

Other brands recalled because they may be affected by Jif Peanut Butter salmonella contamination include:

• Cargill
• Garden Cut
• Country Fresh
• Taher
• Fresh Del Monte
• Wawa
• Coblentz Chocolate Company
• Mary’s Harvest Fresh Foods Inc.
• Albanese Confectionery Group Inc.

Follow the links for specific product recall details.

According to the latest release by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 26, a total of 16 Jif peanut butter illnesses have now been reported, and consumers are being instructed to discard or return any recalled peanut butter products.