--- title: Peanut Corporation of America Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak date: 2009-01-11T19:49:38-08:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/peanut-butter-salmonella-outbreak-08-09" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Peanut Corporation of America Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak At least 714 people became ill with Salmonella infections and 9 died after eating Salmonella-contaminated peanut products manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) and companies that used PCA peanut products as ingredients in 2008 and 2009. The first peanut-related recalls were for the commercially-distributed peanut butter, but on January 16, 2009, Kellogg's issued a [recall of products](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ArchiveRecalls/2009/ucm129082.htm "recall of products") made with peanut paste, including cracker sandwiches and cookies. On January 17, 2009, [ Bill Marler called on the FDA](http://www.marlerclark.com/press_releases/view/fda-must-widen-salmonella-peanut-butter-recalls "Bill Marler called on the FDA") to take additional steps to hasten the removal of potentially contaminated products from the marketplace. Shortly thereafter, the FDA recommended that consumers "postpone" consuming peanut butter products. Many companies issued peanut-product recalls. On January 28th, the Peanut Corporation of America initiated a [recall ](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/MajorProductRecalls/Peanut/default.htm "recall")of all products manufactured in its Blakely, GA plant since January, 2007. After Salmonella was found at PCA's Plainview, TX plant, production from that plant was added to the massive recall. More than 2800 products were recalled. The Marler Clark law firm filed a total of 9 lawsuits on behalf of outbreak victims, and represented over 100 clients in Salmonella cases against PCA. Two families represented by Marler Clark testified in front of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation on February 11, 2009. On February 13, PCA declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The [lawsuits were finally resolved](http://www.marlerclark.com/press_releases/view/settlements-approved-for-victims-of-peanut-butter-salmonella-outbreak "lawsuits were finally settled") after multi-party complex litigation. In a rare criminal action, the U.S. Justice Department announced on February 21, 2013 that PCA officials and a broker had been indicted for their actions before and during the PCA Salmonella outbreak. In a press release, the Justice Department stated: > The charging documents charge that Stewart Parnell, Michael Parnell, Lightsey and Kilgore participated in a scheme to manufacture and ship salmonella-contaminated peanuts and peanut products, and in so doing misled PCA customers. about the existence of foodborne pathogens, most notably salmonella, in the peanut products PCA sold to them. As the charging documents allege, the members of the conspiracy did so in several ways – for example, even when laboratory testing revealed the presence of salmonella in peanut products from the Blakely plant, Stewart Parnell, Michael Parnell, Lightsey and Kilgore failed to notify customers of the presence of salmonella in the products shipped to them. [Bill Marler of Marler Clark, who represented over 100 PCA Salmonella outbreak victims, commented on the indictment](http://www.marlerclark.com/press_releases/view/marler-praises-justice-department-for-indictment-of-peanut-corp.-of-america "Bill Marler of Marler Clark commented on the indictment"): > “These indictments will have a far reaching impact on the food industry. Corporate executives and directors of food safety will need to think hard about the safety of their product when it enters the stream of commerce. 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2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [Salmonella Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/about-salmonella) What is Salmonella and how does it cause food poisoning? The term Salmonella refers to a specific group of gram-negative bacteria with the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress and other... ###### [The Incidence of Salmonella Infections](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/the-incidence-of-salmonella-infections) Typhoidal Salmonella Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhi, Sendai, and Paratyphi A, B, or C are found exclusively in humans. 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