DETROIT – Michigan is at the center of what could be the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history, and now the legal fight has begun.
On Friday, July 17, Michigan health officials reported more than 5,000 cases.
The CDC and FDA say the outbreak has been traced to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell locations in five states — including Michigan — by a single supplier in Mexico.
A source familiar with the investigation told NBC News that the supplier is Taylor Farms.
Ohio man sues after testing positive for cyclospora
Food safety law firm Marler Clark filed a complaint on behalf of Mohammed R. Ayyad, an Ohio man who says he ate at a Taco Bell in North Olmsted — near Cleveland — on June 14 and June 21, 2026.
He began experiencing symptoms on or about June 23, including severe headache, chills, vomiting, and persistent diarrhea.
Ayyad sought care at an urgent care facility on July 3, provided a stool sample on July 6, and tested positive for Cyclospora on July 9.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Ohio, names Pacific Bells, LLC — the Washington company that owns and operates the North Olmsted Taco Bell.
It also names unidentified growers, suppliers, and distributors listed as John Doe Corporations 1–5.
How to build a case
For those who believe they may be part of the outbreak, Marler outlines three key steps:
- Get diagnosed. Medical proof is essential.
- Save receipts. Document where and what you ate.
- Track symptoms. Record dates, details, and doctor visits.
Prevention, not just compensation
Bill Marler, the food safety attorney representing Ayyad, says the goal extends beyond his client.
“This is the first case, and it will not be the last,” Marler said. “We filed today to do two things: find out exactly where this parasite came from — which farm, which field, which supplier — and force the changes that keep it from landing on someone’s plate again next summer, and the summer after that.”
He argues the Cyclospora problem is bigger than any one outbreak.
“Cyclospora is badly undercounted — the CDC says so itself — and you cannot prevent what you refuse to count,” Marler said. “If we want a summer without thousands of people doubled over from a parasite in their salad, we have to trace these outbreaks back to the source and fix the conditions that produce them.”
Investigators are still working to determine whether the implicated lettuce was distributed beyond Taco Bell locations.
It’s important to note that not all cases in the outbreak have been linked to Taco Bell — health officials urge the public to continue taking precautions.
“Based on information provided yesterday by the FDA, Taylor Farms de Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.
While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely.
No other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted. No Taylor Farms branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.”
As a family owned and operated company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the many Americans whose trust in the safety of their fresh produce has been shaken.
That trust is something we’ve worked for decades to earn, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to restore that confidence. We will provide continuous updates as new information emerges.”
Taylor Fresh Foods