Taco Bell Cyclospora Lawsuit Claims Contaminated Lettuce Caused Illnesses

FDA has withdrawn an earlier statement linking Taylor Farms to the Cyclospora outbreak, which plaintiffs allege was caused by Taco Bell lettuce supplied from the company.

A Michigan couple has filed a Cyclospora lawsuit claiming they contracted a parasitic infection after eating contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce served at a Taco Bell restaurant.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Preston and Marie Parrish in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on July 17. It names Taco Bell Corp., Taco Bell of America LLC and Taylor Fresh Foods Inc., doing business as Taylor Farms, as defendants.

According to the complaint, the couple ate food containing shredded iceberg lettuce at a Taco Bell restaurant in Durand, Michigan, on June 30. They allege the lettuce was contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite, causing both of them to develop cyclosporiasis.

2026 Cyclospora Outbreak

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis, which is typically contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with human waste. Symptoms commonly include severe diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, fever and weight loss, with untreated infections sometimes lasting for weeks.

Federal health officials launched an investigation last week after hundreds of consumers reported illnesses linked to a Cyclospora outbreak.

As of July 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had identified at least 1,644 confirmed Cyclospora infections across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia involving individuals who reported eating at Taco Bell, including 94 hospitalizations. Officials indicated there were potentially thousands more cases across 34 different states that could potentially be connected to the outbreak.

Traceback investigators issued an announcement on July 17, indicating they had identified shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell as the common food item among those who had become ill. The fast food chain issued a statement that same day, indicating they had removed all of the potentially contaminated products from their stores “out of an abundance of caution.”

Officials determined the product had originated from a single supplier in Mexico, which was named as Taylor Farms. That company announced a recall of the potentially contaminated products on July 17 as well.

In light of these concerns, Cyclospora outbreak lawsuits are being filed against Taylor Farms and Taco Bell, alleging the distributor provided the fast food chain with a contaminated product that resulted in customers contracting severe parasitic infections.

Taco Bell Cyclospora Outbreak Allegations

The complaint contends Taylor Farms supplied shredded iceberg lettuce contaminated during growing or processing, allowing the Cyclospora parasite to reach Taco Bell restaurants in multiple states.

It further alleges Taco Bell required franchised restaurants to purchase lettuce and other produce through its approved supply chain, giving the company control over the sourcing and distribution of the ingredients served to customers.

After the outbreak was identified, Taco Bell removed shredded iceberg lettuce and other potentially affected produce from restaurants in the impacted region and stopped using lettuce supplied through the source identified during the FDA investigation.

Plaintiffs claim Taco Bell and Taylor Farms failed to ensure the lettuce was safe for human consumption and violated federal and state food safety requirements by manufacturing, distributing and selling contaminated food.

“On information and belief, Defendant Taylor Farms grew, processed, and/or supplied the contaminated lettuce prepared and sold by Taco Bell and consumed by Plaintiffs.”

— Preston Parrish et al. v. Taco Bell Corp. et al.

The lawsuit raises allegations of breach of warranty, negligence, negligence per se, strict liability and violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The couple seeks compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, emotional distress and other damages allegedly resulting from their Cyclospora infections.

FDA Retracts Taylor Farms Cyclospora Test Result

Although lawsuits have already been filed against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over the outbreak, the FDA revised its outbreak update on July 19, after determining that an earlier laboratory result linking Taylor Farms lettuce to Cyclospora was a false positive.

According to the agency, a more detailed review found the test did not represent a true detection of the parasite. However, the agency said it continues working with Taylor Farms to ensure any produce potentially associated with the outbreak has been removed from the market.

Federal and state investigators are continuing to collect and analyze lettuce samples, and the FDA reports there have been no confirmed positive product tests for Cyclospora. The agency also emphasized that its investigation into the source of the multistate outbreak remains ongoing.

As investigators continue tracing the source of the outbreak, attorneys expect additional Cyclospora lawsuits to be filed by individuals who allege they became ill after eating contaminated food. If a specific source is identified, the litigation could expand to include restaurants, growers, distributors and other companies involved in bringing the contaminated produce to market.

Previous outbreaks involving E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria have resulted in multiple product liability lawsuits alleging companies failed to implement adequate safety measures, allowing contaminated items to enter the food supply. 

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