Girl Died After Consuming Mislabeled Cookie, Household Is Suing Retailer

Peggy Bryant was getting ready to have fun her sixtieth wedding ceremony anniversary when her life was lower quick by a mislabeled cookie.

The 78-year-old had simply been procuring at a Safeway grocery retailer in Duvall, Wash., on April 7, 2023, when she determined to take pleasure in one of many snacks she had bought — and considered one of her favourite treats — an oatmeal cookie, in response to NBC affiliate KING-TV.

“My mother liked oatmeal raisin cookies,” Bryant’s daughter, Lisa Bishop, instructed the Seattle outlet.

However after only one chunk of the Safeway model baked good, Bryant observed that the deal with was one thing else completely, Lisa claims.

“She realized that the cookie she was consuming was really a peanut butter cookie,” she instructed KING-TV, “and he or she’s deathly allergic to nuts, peanuts.”

Bryant was rushed to a close-by hospital, however died throughout the hour, Lisa recalled to the outlet. A coroner’s report later confirmed that anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergic response — was the reason for her dying, in response to her son-in-law, Greg Bishop.

“Once they bought the blood outcomes again, [the coroner] mentioned it was clearly anaphylaxis,” Greg mentioned. “Her blood vessels had principally damaged down.”

Months earlier than she might have fun 60 years together with her highschool sweetheart, Bryant’s life was not solely lower quick, however her closing moments “have been tragic and terrible and painful” — an upsetting finish for somebody who was “all the time stuffed with pleasure and enjoyable,” Lisa instructed KING-TV.

Now, two years later, Bryant’s household is taking authorized motion.

After the deadly mix-up, the well being division carried out an inspection, which led Safeway to difficulty a recall, in response to the household’s criticism. However the household says it doesn’t need any repeat incidents, particularly as a result of Bryant’s dying was so preventable.

“I knew that we simply needed to do one thing,” Lisa instructed KING-TV. So the household filed a lawsuit towards the grocery retailer chain.

Albertsons Corporations, which owns Safeway, didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for touch upon Saturday, Might 10.

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The household’s lawsuit, which was filed in federal court docket, seeks accountability for the error and goals to focus on the essential significance of correct meals labeling.

“Do the appropriate factor,” Lisa instructed KING-TV. “I do not need it to occur to anyone else. Labels are there for a purpose, and I do not need anyone else to die from mislabeling.”