SoyNut Butter Lawsuit

I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter and granola coated in soy nut butter has been linked to an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning. At least 29 people were infected in 12 states, including 24 children. Nine victims developed a type of kidney failure.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting SoyNut Butter induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with E. coli, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

FDA Shuts Down SoyNut Butter Manufacturer

Dixie Dew Products, Inc., the company that makes SoyNut Butter in Kentucky, was shut down by the FDA after inspectors observed food safety violations. Water was seen dripping into food, there was no hot water or soap for hand-washing, mold was growing on SoyNut Butter, and the facility had a serious pest infestation.

How Many People Were Infected?

March 30, 2017 — The CDC has confirmed 29 illnesses in 12 states from SoyNut Butter products: Arizona (4), California (5), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), Oregon (9), Virginia (2), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (1).

Outbreak Information

The earliest illness was on January 4 and the most recent illness was on March 13, 0217. Of the 29 victims, 24 (83%) are younger than 18 years old. Twelve sick people were hospitalized. Nine of them developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening type of kidney failure. Some victims ate SoyNut Butter at daycare or school.

SoyNut Butter Recall

The manufacturer — SoyNut Butter Co. of Glenview, Illinois — announced a recall for the “Original Creamy” flavor on March 4, 2017. Three days layer, the company expanded the recall to include all varieties of SoyNut Butter and granola.

What Products Contain Soy Nut Butter?

The products are sold in 4-pound tub bulk sizes for schools, daycares, hospitals, nursing homes by Sysco and US Foodservice. They are also sold in “Single Serving Cups” or granola/fruit mix bags (50-oz.).

They are also sold directly to consumers in individual jars of SoyNut Butter (15-oz), bags of granola (12-oz.), “Single Serving Cups,” and other products at a variety of grocery stores and retailers.

Dixie’s Diner Club Beanit Butter Recall

Dixie Diner’s Club brand of “Carb Not Beanit Butter” was also recalled by the SoyNut Butter Company in an expanded recall on March 10, 2017. The product was only sold online and it was marketed as a health food for people with peanut allergies.

Protein Bar Recall

Pro Sports Line recalled 36,000 of the Yogurt Peanut Crunch Protein Bars sold under the “20/20 Life Styles” brand due to possible contamination with E. coli. The Washington-based company was a customer of The SoyNut Butter Company.

Montessori School Outbreak in Oregon

In Oregon, several cases of E. coli infections in children and adults at Montessori of Alameda in Northeast Portland were linked to SoyNut Butter. At least 4 people at the school were infected.

1st SoyNut Butter Lawsuit Filed for 8 Year-old Victim

The first SoyNut Butter lawsuit has been filed by the parents of an 8 year-old boy named “T.S.” who was hospitalized for nearly a month after developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening kidney side effect of E. coli.

The boy regularly ate SoyNut Butter before he fell ill. He developed severe abdominal pain on January 25, was hospitalized on January 30, and required dialysis and blood transfusions. He went home on February 23, but faces an uncertain future risk of kidney problems.

The lawsuit (PDF) was filed on March 6, 2017 in federal court in Illinois — In RE: Mosby and Erin Simmons, et. al. vs. The SoyNut Butter Company — Case No. 1:17-cv-01756.

Do Not Eat or Serve SoyNut Butter

Maryland officials and the CDC are warning consumers and daycares not to serve ANY size or type of SoyNut Butter or granola coated in it due to the risk of E. coli:

Do not eat, and childcare centers, schools, and other institutions do not serve, any I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter varieties and sizes, or I.M. Healthy brand granola coated with SoyNut Butter.”

Outbreak Strain is E. coli O157:H7

The outbreak is caused by Shiga-toxin producing E. coli O157:H7. This strain is especially dangerous because it causes kidney failure in 5-10% of victims. Children under 5 years old are even more likely to develop complications.

Symptoms of E. Coli Infection

It takes 1-10 days for symptoms of food poisoning with E. coli to appear. These symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea (watery, bloody)
• Severe stomach pain
• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting
• Low fever
• Less frequent urination
• Paleness
• Tiredness

SoyNut Butter E. Coli Outbreak Investigation

On March 2, officials in Maryland reported the E. coli outbreak and warned consumers not to eat I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter. On March 3, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) investigated the outbreak and said all nine (100%) people who were interviewed ate SoyNut Butter or granola in the week before they got sick. All of the victims were infected with a nearly-identical strain of E. coli with a unique “DNA fingerprint” that has never been seen before.

Do I have a SoyNut Butter Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting SoyNut Butter induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with E. coli, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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