Michigan couple sues Taco Bell, Taylor Farms over Cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4

What the report says

WDIV ClickOnDetroit reported that Preston and Marie Parrish, a couple from Durand, Michigan, have filed a federal lawsuit against Taco Bell and produce supplier Taylor Fresh Foods Inc., doing business as Taylor Farms, after allegedly becoming ill during a multistate Cyclospora outbreak. The complaint was filed July 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and also names Taco Bell Corp. and Taco Bell of America LLC as defendants.

According to the report, the Parrishes say they ate food with shredded iceberg lettuce at a Taco Bell in Shiawassee County on June 30 and later contracted cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite. The lawsuit alleges the lettuce was contaminated, was supplied by Taylor Farms, and that unsafe growing or processing conditions contributed to the contamination. The couple is seeking more than $75,000 in damages, along with attorney fees and other costs.

WDIV reported that the lawsuit cites federal and state health officials linking a multistate outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations. As of July 16, the FDA and CDC had reported 1,644 confirmed illnesses in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, with about 94 hospitalizations and no reported deaths. The complaint alleges Michigan has been heavily affected and says lettuce traced in the FDA investigation came from Taylor Farms.

The claims include negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty and alleged violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The lawsuit also alleges Taylor Farms knew of Cyclospora risks from prior outbreaks and that Taco Bell controlled its supply chain. WDIV noted that neither company had responded in court as of July 21, and the allegations remain unproven.