A family from Washington state has filed a lawsuit against grocery giant Safeway, claiming that the tragic death of their 78-year-old grandmother, Margaret Jean “Peggy” Bryant, was caused by a mislabeled peanut butter cookie.
The lawsuit alleges that the cookie was labeled as oatmeal raisin, despite actually containing peanuts, to which Bryant was severely allergic.
The Fatal Incident
On April 7, 2023, Bryant purchased the cookie from a Safeway store in Duvall, Washington. Believing it to be a safe oatmeal raisin cookie, she ate one. Soon after, she began feeling unwell and went to the bathroom. A short time later, her husband, Dennis Bryant, found her unresponsive.
He immediately called 911, but despite the arrival of paramedics, she went into cardiac arrest and passed away shortly after. The couple had been married for 59 years and had been planning to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary just days after the incident.
The Discovery of the Mislabeled Cookie
After Bryant’s death, the family learned that the cookie she ate was, in fact, a peanut butter cookie, not an oatmeal raisin cookie as it was labeled. The family alleges that Safeway staff at the Duvall bakery had mislabeled the cookie, leading to the fatal mistake.
The autopsy confirmed that Bryant’s cause of death was food-induced anaphylaxis due to peanut toxicity. Her death was classified as an accident, and the local health department conducted an inspection of Safeway’s bakery. In response to the incident, Safeway issued a recall for the product.
The Lawsuit and Family’s Grief
The Bryant family is suing Safeway for $9.5 million, seeking compensation for the loss of their beloved family member. In the lawsuit, the family described Peggy as a vibrant, loving woman who still had many years ahead of her to enjoy life, love, and support her family. “No amount of money can compensate for this loss,” the family’s lawyer stated.
Lisa Bishop, Bryant’s daughter, spoke out about the emotional toll the tragedy has taken on the family. She urged Safeway to “do the right thing” by addressing the labeling issue to prevent similar incidents from happening to others.
“I don’t want it to happen to anybody else. Labels are there for a reason, and I don’t want anybody else to die from mislabeling,” she said.
Calls for Greater Attention to Product Labeling
Bishop emphasized that the mishap caused her mother to endure “unimaginable pain and suffering” before her death, underscoring the importance of accurate product labeling, especially for those with life-threatening allergies.
She urged Safeway and other retailers to take greater care in ensuring that all food products are properly labeled to prevent future tragedies.
As the lawsuit moves forward, the family hopes that the case will raise awareness about the risks of mislabeling food products and prompt stricter food safety regulations to protect consumers.