Lawsuit Filed Over Taco Bell Cyclospora Outbreak

An Ohio man and a couple from Michigan have become some of the first to file a lawsuit linked to a recent Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands and led to severe gastrointestinal issues.

The Ohio man reported falling ill after consuming three meals at Taco Bell during June. Meanwhile, the Michigan couple claimed they got sick, supposedly from contaminated lettuce, also in June. This particular ingredient has been tied to approximately 90% of the reported cases among Taco Bell patrons in Michigan, according to the FDA.

Mohamed Ayyad, a frequent customer of the Taco Bell location in North Olmsted, Ohio, recounted that his troubles began after ordering Cheese Fiesta Fries and Avocado Ranch Chicken Stackers on three occasions in mid-June.

Shortly thereafter, he experienced severe headaches, chills, vomiting, persistent diarrhea, and debilitating weakness that even kept him from sleeping. This information came from a legal complaint filed on Thursday in a federal court in Ohio.

Nearly a week and a half after symptoms first appeared, Ayyad sought medical attention at an emergency clinic, where he received Imodium but not antibiotics, as stated in the lawsuit.

By July 9, tests revealed a parasitic infection. He missed two weeks of work, lost income, and is still dealing with ongoing nausea and other issues, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit has named Pacific Bells LLC, a franchisee operating around 300 Taco Bell locations, as a defendant.

Ayyad’s lawyer, Bill Mahler, mentioned that he plans to amend the lawsuit to include Salinas, California-based Taylor Farms, identified as a potential source of the contaminated produce. He hinted that more cases might be forthcoming.

“We’ve heard from over 30 people, and about 90% of them dined at Taco Bell,” Mahler stated.

In a separate lawsuit filed in Michigan federal court, Preston and Marie Parrish allege they contracted cysticercosis after dining at a Taco Bell in Durand, Michigan, on June 30. Their complaint lists Taco Bell Corporation, Taco Bell of America, and Taylor Farms as defendants.

The Parrishes assert they ate contaminated lettuce that had fecal matter.

Both lawsuits are seeking unspecified damages.

Taco Bell opted not to comment on the legal matter. Contact has been made with Taylor Farms for their response, but the company has indicated on social media that its salads and kits are not linked to the outbreak.

This lawsuit follows Taco Bell’s announcement that it would voluntarily remove potentially problematic lettuce supplied from certain states. Taylor Farms also declared that it was recalling iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico in light of FDA information.

Since May 1, approximately 1,645 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have emerged across 34 states, with Michigan reporting the highest numbers, according to the CDC. They have advised customers to refrain from consuming lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Officials reported at least 141 hospitalizations but noted that no deaths have occurred.

The tally of confirmed cases may continue to rise, as federal health officials are examining over 5,100 additional reports for possible cysts. In New York state alone, there were 511 cases of cyclosporiasis from May 1 to July 10, according to health officials.