Taco Bell Sued Over Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

Taco Bell is facing multiple lawsuits over a recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasite that causes severe diarrhea and other symptoms.

Among those suing the fast-food chain is David Ott, a 27-year military veteran who claims he was hospitalized after eating at a Taco Bell in Ohio. Mr Ott, who is being represented by the law firm Ron Simon & Associates, says he purchased and ate Taco Supremes from the restaurant on June 18 and June 20.

He claims that a couple of days later, he experienced abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, and other symptoms, which worsened to the point where he was admitted to a local hospital. There, he underwent a colonoscopy, a CT scan, and extensive blood and stool studies, and was ultimately diagnosed with cyclosporiasis.

Another Ohio man, Mohammed Ayyad, is also suing Taco Bell. He claims that he ate at the restaurant three times – twice on June 14 and once on June 21 – and later developed a headache, chills, and persistent diarrhea. Mr Ayyad says he went to urgent care and provided a stool sample on July 6, which tested positive for cyclospora. He was prescribed antibiotics.

A Michigan couple is also suing the brand, claiming that they ate shredded lettuce at a Taco Bell on June 30 that was contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. They say they suffered a cyclospora infection and were forced to undergo medical care.

The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly investigating Taylor Farms as a possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak, which has affected four Midwestern states. Taco Bell has said that it has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients as a precaution, but stressed that officials have not yet confirmed a source.