Florida Dad Names Publix and ConAgra in Salmonella Suit

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A Florida father has filed a suit against Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets and Nebraska-based ConAgra Foods, the manufacturer of Peter Pan peanut butter, claiming that he and his son became violently ill from eating tainted product that was purchased at Publix.

The father, Lazaro Aleman, of Cutler Bay, said the jar of peanut butter he bought was part of a batch of Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter made by ConAgra at a Sylvester, Ga. plant.

Last week, ConAgra voluntarily recalled certain jars of peanut butter under those brand names, after federal officials linked the peanut butter to a salmonella outbreak.

The lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court is at least the fourth legal action tied to the contaminated product since the recall, according to published reports.

Aleman's attorney, John H. Ruiz, reportedly said he will request that the court grant class action status, to include people who bought and ate the peanut butter, whether they became sick or not.

ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel the company had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment on it. A Publix spokeswoman said the company was unaware of the lawsuit.
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