September 23, 1999



John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.
2299 Busse Road
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

          RE:  John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (the "Company")
               Registration Statement on Form S-8
               350,000 Shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
               --------------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as your special securities counsel in connection with the
registration pursuant to a Registration Statement (the "Registration
Statement") on Form S-8, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), relating
to the sale of up to 350,000 shares of your Common Stock, $.01 par value per
share (the "Common Stock"), pursuant to The John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.
1998 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

We have examined original (or copies certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction) instruments, certificates and documents and have reviewed such
questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose
of the opinions rendered below.  In such examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to
us as copies.  As to any facts material to our opinion, we have, when
relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon the aforesaid
certificates.

Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

1. The Company is a legally organized and validly existing corporation in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. The 350,000 shares of Common Stock covered by the Registration
Statement when issued and delivered by the Company in accordance with the
Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the State of Illinois,
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of
the United States of America, and we express no opinion as to the law of any
other jurisdiction or the effect thereof. Our opinions expressed herein are
limited to the specific issues addressed and are limited in all respects to
laws and facts existing on the date hereof.  By rendering this opining, we do
not undertake to advise you of any changes in such laws or facts which occur
after the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to any and all references to our firm in the
Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that
we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        JENNER & BLOCK



                                        /s/ Timothy R. Donovan
                                        ----------------------
                                        By: Timothy R. Donovan
















September 16, 1999
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