OHIO — Bill Marler filed lawsuits on behalf of three Ohio residents against Taco Bell and its lettuce supplier Taylor Farms. The legal action follows a widespread cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands across the United States.

The complaints name Taylor Farms as a defendant and allege that contaminated lettuce from the company caused the illnesses. Taylor Farms is based in California and serves as Taco Bell’s lettuce supplier.

Marler is a food safety attorney who previously represented victims of a 2013 cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms' salad mixes. That earlier incident caused hundreds of illnesses across the U.S. and established a prior connection between the supplier and the parasite.

Federal health data indicates the current outbreak has reached a historic scale. As of July 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 4,713 confirmed cases of cyclospora across 41 states.

The agency also recorded 308 hospitalizations related to the cyclospora outbreak. Investigators are tracking more than 7,500 suspected cases of cyclospora that remain under review.

Federal investigators identified the source of the outbreak and initiated a voluntary recall. The FDA linked Taylor Farms lettuce to the outbreak, prompting the company to take action.

Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall last week for its iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The company stated that products potentially contaminated with cyclospora were shipped to 27 states, including Ohio.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the situation at a press briefing on Tuesday. He said the outbreak was “under control.”

He offered a sharply different assessment of the public health response. He described the parasite outbreak as an “out-of-control clown car.”

“The fact that this is 2026 and we’re stumbling through an outbreak that’s bigger than any outbreak in 30 years … is just ridiculous,” he said. He argued that funding cuts to the CDC, FDA, and state and local health authorities contributed to the scale of the outbreak.

“The fact of the matter is we have the ability to fix this problem, but just haven’t done that,” he said. He predicted that the total number of victims would rise substantially as investigations continue.

“I think the majority of these 12,000 cases will ultimately be linked to Taylor Farms lettuce grown in Mexico,” he said. His statement suggests the confirmed case count represents only a fraction of the total impact.

Regulatory complications emerged regarding initial testing results. The FDA said a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms that initially tested positive for cyclospora was a false positive.

The FDA confirmed that the false positive result does not change the ongoing recall or investigation into the outbreak. He dismissed the significance of the testing dispute in the context of the broader illness cluster.

“The test that Taylor Farms has described as a false positive is frankly irrelevant,” he said. He explained that the tested product never made it onto the market, meaning the specific sample was not responsible for consumer illnesses.

Despite the litigation and recall, he provided guidance on general food safety. He stated that he believes it is safe for Americans to continue eating leafy greens. However, he cautioned against consuming “pre-cut, triple washed bagged salad.” This distinction shows specific processing methods that may carry higher risks during an active contamination event.

The outbreak represents a major challenge to the food safety infrastructure in 2026. With 4,713 confirmed cases and hundreds of hospitalizations, the event has disrupted supply chains and triggered federal regulatory action. The involvement of a major fast-food chain and a dominant produce supplier amplifies the economic and public health stakes.

The legal proceedings may establish liability for illnesses linked to imported produce. His argument that funding cuts weakened the response adds a policy dimension to the health crisis. The outcome could influence how federal agencies manage inspections and recalls for fresh produce in the future.