Qdoba Salmonella Lawsuit Filed Over Contaminated Jalapeños Linked to Multistate Outbreak

More than 400 illnesses have been reported across 32 states in a Salmonella Javiana outbreak caused by contaminated jalapeños served at Qdoba.

Two consumers have joined together to file a class action lawsuit against Qdoba, alleging that contaminated jalapeños served at the popular Mexican food restaurants are responsible for causing a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has already sickened hundreds of individuals nationwide.

The lawsuit (PDF) was brought by Nicole Christina Trujillo and Sherdi Sardari Kermani in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on September 10, naming Qdoba Restaurant Corp., Butterfly Equity LP and Coast Citrus Distributors LLC as defendants.

Trujillo and Kermani allege they developed symptoms consistent with Salmonella Javiana infections after eating meals from Qdoba that contained jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, which have been blamed for causing a nationwide outbreak of similar illnesses.

Qdoba Salmonella Outbreak

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections in August 2026, which investigators linked to contaminated jalapeño peppers distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors and served primarily at Qdoba restaurants.

At least 431 illnesses have been identified across 32 states, including 57 people who required hospitalization. To date, no deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak.

Salmonella symptoms typically begin within 12 to 72 hours after exposure and may include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue and vomiting.

While most infections resolve without serious complications, salmonella can cause severe illness in some individuals, particularly young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Potential complications may include bloodstream infections, meningitis and other serious conditions that can require hospitalization.

Qdoba Salmonella Illness Allegations

According to the complaint, Trujillo purchased food from a Qdoba restaurant in Colorado on July 31, ordering chicken nachos with queso, cilantro and two types of salsa that allegedly contained the contaminated jalapeños.

Within several hours of eating the meal, Trujillo says she developed nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Although she did not seek medical treatment, the illness allegedly caused her to miss work.

Kermani similarly claims she became sick after eating at a Qdoba restaurant in Oregon on July 11. She ordered a brisket birria burrito bowl that allegedly contained the contaminated jalapeños and developed diarrhea several hours later.

Both plaintiffs maintain they would not have purchased the food if they had been warned that the jalapeños may have been contaminated with Salmonella Javiana.

The lawsuit alleges Qdoba and Coast Citrus failed to notify customers about the contamination or adequately disclose the risk of salmonella infection. Plaintiffs also claim Qdoba could have used alternative ingredients and had a duty to warn consumers about the source of the contamination and the health risks associated with eating the affected jalapeños.

“No reasonable consumer would expect the Products to be contaminated with S. Javiana bacteria. Accordingly, Plaintiffs and similarly situated consumers were injured as a result of purchasing the Products, including, among other things, they purchased and paid for products that did not conform to what was promised as promoted, marketed, advertised, packaged, and labeled by Defendants.”

— Nicole Christina Trujillo et al. v. Qdoba Restaurant Corp. et al.

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict product liability, negligence, unjust enrichment and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law, Colorado’s Consumer Protection Act and Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act. It seeks certification as a class action, as well as compensatory, statutory and punitive damages for physical illness, pain and suffering, loss of work and other injuries.

Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

The Qdoba salmonella outbreak is the latest in a series of large foodborne illness events linked to contaminated ingredients distributed through national restaurant chains and grocery stores.

In July 2026, federal health officials began investigating a multistate Cyclospora outbreak that ultimately caused nearly 2,000 illnesses and about 100 hospitalizations across 34 states. Investigators traced the outbreak to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, which was served at Taco Bell restaurants and sold through grocery stores nationwide.

A number of Cyclospora food poisoning lawsuits were subsequently filed against Taylor Farms and Taco Bell, alleging consumers developed parasitic infections after eating the contaminated lettuce.

Similar lawsuits have followed other nationwide outbreaks involving Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. Those claims often focus on whether food manufacturers, distributors and restaurants had adequate procedures in place to identify contamination, remove affected products from the supply chain and warn consumers before additional illnesses occurred.

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