Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJustin RohrlichFriday 17 July 2026 19:06 BSTCyclosporiasis: Lettuce supplied to Taco Bell linked to outbreakOhio resident Mohammed R. Ayyad filed a federal lawsuit against Taco Bell, claiming he contracted a parasitic infection, cyclosporiasis, after eating at a Cleveland-area location.Ayyad reported severe symptoms, including persistent nausea and headaches, and missed two weeks of work following his meals of Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes and Avocado Ranch Chicken Stackers in June 2026.This lawsuit is the first amid a widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak, which has affected nearly 7,000 people nationally and has been linked to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell.Attorney Bill Marler, representing Ayyad, stated the suit seeks to identify the parasite's source and implement preventative changes, while also criticizing the public health apparatus's handling of such outbreaks.The CDC and FDA confirmed Taco Bell as the outbreak's epicenter, with the contaminated lettuce traced to a farm in Mexico through a California supplier.In fullTaco Bell faces first lawsuit over ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreakMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in