Taco Bell Sued over Salmonella Outbreak

SEATTLEThe first Salmonella lawsuit has been filed in the pair of recent Salmonella outbreaks that have sickened 155 people in 21 states. The lawsuit was filed by food-safety law firm Marler Clark against Yum! Brandsparent company of Taco Bellin the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Franklin County Circuit Court on behalf of Jo Ann Smith.

According to the lawsuit, Smith purchased two tacos garnished with lettuce, cheese and sour cream from a Frankfort, Ky., Taco Bell on May 24. Two days later she awoke with symptoms including nausea and diarrhea. Her symptoms continued to worsen, and on May 29 she was taken to the emergency room. A stool sample she submitted while at the emergency room later returned positive for Salmonella Hartfordone of the strains of Salmonella determined last week to be the source of the outbreak associated with Taco Bell.

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced it had been tracking two Salmonella outbreaks linked to Taco Bell. As of Aug. 1, the outbreak of Salmonella Hartford had sickened 75 people in 15 states since April 1, and the outbreak of Salmonella Baildon had sickened 80 people in 15 states since May 1.

Weve been involved with two prior food poisoning outbreaks at Taco Bell," said attorney and food safety advocate Bill Marler.  In 2000, there was a hepatitis outbreak in green onions at the chain, and in 2006 an E. coli outbreak sickened many patrons. My hope is that these two experiences will lead Yum! Brands to step up quickly to address the needs of their customers who have been infected with Salmonella."