Lawsuit Targets Taco Bell and Taylor Farms Over Cyclospora Outbreak

The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Ohio, marks the first time Taylor Farms has been named as a defendant in the 2026 multistate Cyclospora outbreak. While federal regulators have acknowledged that shredded iceberg lettuce from a single supplier is the source of the infection, they have stopped short of publicly identifying the company. Legal counsel for the plaintiff, William Marler, contends that both Taco Bell and Taylor Farms have a documented history of foodborne illness outbreaks spanning two decades, often involving the same produce.

Caruso’s illness began in late June following multiple meals at an Austinburg, Ohio, Taco Bell. Due to a severe allergy to the standard antibiotic treatment for cyclosporiasis, her recovery remains ongoing. The case highlights a significant discrepancy in data: while the FDA and CDC officially report 1,644 confirmed cases across five states, state-level health departments estimate the actual number exceeds 8,000. This struggle for transparency reflects a recurring pattern where government agencies often decline to name specific corporate suppliers, leaving victims to pursue accountability through private litigation.