Veteran files lawsuit against Taco Bell, supplier over cyclospora infection

A U.S. Army veteran has filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell, its lettuce supplier Taylor Farms and the franchisee of the restaurant he visited, claiming a cyclospora parasite infection led to severe gastrointestinal symptoms and a two-day hospitalization. Ott said he ate at the fast-food chain twice before experiencing intense stomach pain, cramping and watery diarrhea that left him dehydrated and unable to keep food down. He reported that doctors initially struggled to diagnose the illness until a CDC emergency alert about a broader outbreak prompted further testing.

"Just extreme stomach pain, cramping, explosive watery diarrhea. It was pretty rough," Ott said.

"My mouth was dry, I couldn’t keep anything down."

Ott noted that doctors first told him the state had not recorded cyclospora cases, despite his recent travel to Ohio. The lawsuit follows a recent FDA correction that a prior positive test for cyclospora in Taylor Farms lettuce was a false positive, though the agency said the error does not affect its ongoing investigation or a voluntary recall.

"They’re testing lettuce that is the lettuce produced now, not the lettuce that made people sick a month ago," said attorney Ron Simon, who represents Ott. "In all honesty, it’s kind of just a big nothing burger."

Simon said his firm now represents hundreds of victims, primarily in Ohio and Michigan, and that the outbreak may involve far more cases than the CDC’s reported 1,600, with state health departments estimating around 8,000 infections. Ott said he hopes the legal action will encourage stronger food safety measures.

"I don’t want to worry about going to a fast food restaurant and eating, or any restaurant for that matter, even getting lettuce off the shelf at the grocery store," he added.