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Smucker Sues Trader Joe's Over Look-Alike Crustless PB&J, Citing Uncrustables Trade Dress

The Ohio case centers on claims that Trader Joe's crustless PB&J copies Uncrustables' protected design, causing consumer confusion.

Overview

  • J.M. Smucker filed the lawsuit on Oct. 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio over Trader Joe's new crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
  • The complaint alleges trademark infringement, dilution, unfair competition, false designation of origin, and deceptive trade practices.
  • Smucker says the sandwiches mimic Uncrustables' round shape with crimped edges and a blue box design featuring a bite-mark image.
  • Requested remedies include injunctions, turnover and disposal of the sandwiches and related materials, and an accounting of profits from their sales.
  • Smucker describes Uncrustables as a nearly $1 billion brand producing about 1.5 billion sandwiches annually, and it cites social media posts as evidence of confusion while Trader Joe's has not commented.