Smuckers Misled Public About Safety Of Its Jif Peanut Butter Products, Class Action Says

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Smuckers Jif Peanut Butter Recall Class Action Lawsuit Overview: 

• Who: John Kraljevich filed a class action lawsuit against The J.M. Smucker Co.
• Why: Kraljevich claims Smuckers misled consumers by advertising its Jif peanut butter products were safe for consumption despite the company having to issue a recall on May 20 due to a salmonella contamination. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Kentucky federal court. 

Smuckers misled the public by claiming its Jif peanut butter products contained ingredients safe for consumption, despite them actually being contaminated with salmonella, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff John Kraljevich claims Smuckers sold Jif peanut butter contaminated with salmonella from between Feb. 22 and May of this year, ultimately resulting in a nationwide recall earlier this month. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating how the contamination occurred at Smuckers’ facility in Lexington, Kentucky. 

Kraljevich wants to represent a nationwide class and South Carolina subclass of consumers who purchased Jif peanut butter products recalled by Smuckers on or around May 20. 

The Smuckers recall included more than 40 Jif peanut butter products that were contaminated with salmonella, according to the Smuckers class action. 

Consumers Unaware Jif Peanut Butter Products Contaminated 

Kraljevich argues consumers were unaware when they purchased the Jif peanut butter products that they were contaminated with salmonella. 

“Consumers expect the food they purchase to be safe for consumption and not contaminated by an organism ‘which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections,’” states the Smuckers class action. 

Kraljevich claims Smuckers is guilty of negligence, fraudulent concealment, breach of warranties and unjust enrichment. 

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive and declaratory relief, along with all actual, general, special, incidental, statutory, punitive and consequential damages for himself and all class members. 

A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Smuckers last year by a consumer alleging its Crisco brand “Butter – No-Stick Spray” does not actually contain butter.

If you suffered from Salmonella after eating peanut butter from Smuckers, you can join a Jif Peanut Butter Recall Lawsuit Investigation (links to paid attorney advertising). 

The plaintiff is represented by Thomas R. Coffey of Morgan Potter McGarvey and Roy T. Willey IV, Paul Doolittle and Blake G. Abbott of Poulin | Wiley | Anastopoulo.  

The Jif Peanut Butter Class Action Lawsuit is Kraljevich v. The J.M. Smucker Co., Case No. 5:22-cv-00134, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

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