Featured Image Credit: KING 5 Seattle/YouTube
Topics: Food and Drink, US News, Health
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Food and Drink, US News, Health
The family of a 78-year-old woman who passed away from a severe allergic reaction has filed a lawsuit against a supermarket.
On April 7, 2023, Peggy Bryant was shopping in a Safeway grocery store in Duvall, Washington.
She bought a cookie alongside various other products and decided to eat what she believed to be an oatmeal cookie shortly after her shopping trip.
However, after taking a bite, her daughter, Lisa Bishop, said Peggy realized the cookie wasn't oatmeal.
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Peggy ultimately experienced a severe allergic reaction and passed away - just months before she was set to celebrate her 60-year anniversary with her husband.
Lisa has since launched a lawsuit against Safeway - owned by Albertsons Companies - alleging the cookie was incorrectly labeled as an 'oatmeal raisin cookie'.
Speaking to KING 5 Seattle, Lisa alleged her mom took one bite of the cookie and realized 'the cookie she was eating was actually a peanut butter cookie'.
"And she's deathly allergic to nuts - peanuts," she added.
Peggy was immediately rushed to hospital, but Lisa said that within an hour, she'd passed away.
The family called on the coroner for a full report and the blood results allegedly said Peggy's death was 'clearly' caused by 'anaphylaxis'.
Mayo Clinic explains: "Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to, such as peanuts or bee stings."
Another member of Peggy's family noted the coroner said her blood vessels had 'basically broken down'.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later did an inspection into Safeway.
It ultimately requested a recall, with Safeway sending out a notice titled 'Albertsons Companies Voluntarily Recalls Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Sold at a Safeway Store in Duvall, Washington Due to an Undeclared Peanut and Soy Allergen'.
In the two years which have followed, Peggy's family has filed a lawsuit against Safeway.
The lawsuit seeks accountability for the error and improvements to be made to the store's food labeling.
"The last few moments of my mom's life were tragic and awful and painful," Lisa noted.
Lisa urged Safeway to 'do the right thing', raising awareness about her mom's story because she 'doesn't want it to happen to anyone else'.
She resolved: "Labels are there for a reason and we don't want anyone else to die from mislabeling."
A spokesperson for Albertsons Companies told UNILAD: "Our hearts go out to the Bryant family and loved ones, and our thoughts remain with them. Safeway is committed to the safety and well-being of our customers, and we take the allegations of this complaint seriously. We cannot comment on ongoing litigation at this time."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].