Three Ohio Residents Sue Taco Bell Over Cyclospora Illnesses

Three Ohio residents are suing Taco Bell, alleging they became ill after eating at the restaurant as a Cyclospora outbreak continues to spread, NewsNation affiliate WJW reported.

A Taco Bell restaurant is shown as lawsuits over alleged Cyclospora infections are filed in Ohio. (Photo: Mike Mozart Flickr)

Food safety attorney Bill Marler said he has filed lawsuits on behalf of a Youngstown man, a North Olmsted man and, most recently, an Ashtabula County woman, Jordan Perkins reported..

The lawsuits also name Taylor Farms, Taco Bell's lettuce supplier, alleging that contaminated lettuce caused the illnesses.

According to one lawsuit, the North Olmsted man ate a meal containing lettuce at a Taco Bell restaurant in June. About a week later, he developed symptoms and was diagnosed with cyclosporiasis.

The Youngstown man similarly alleged he became ill after eating at a Taco Bell restaurant in his city. Marler filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Ashtabula County woman on Friday.

Taco Bell said it has removed the lettuce supplier from its supply chain in select states.

"Cyclospora is a human fecal pathogen," Marler said.

"It's a parasite that's only found in human feces. Somehow, human feces contaminated the water used to irrigate these crops or entered the distribution chain, and now thousands of people in America have become sick. We deserve answers."