Chicago Couple Files First Illinois Lawsuit Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak
A Belmont Cragin couple has filed what appears to be the first Illinois federal lawsuit linked to a multistate Cyclospora outbreak involving recalled iceberg lettuce.
Alonso Zaragoza and Jadhira Sanchez filed the complaint on August 21, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Taylor Fresh Foods Inc. and Taylor Farms California Inc. The lawsuit alleges that contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce caused Zaragoza’s illness after he ate a July 11 Taco Bell meal.
The case is pending. Its allegations have not been proven in court, and the filing does not establish that the defendants caused Zaragoza’s illness.
What the Chicago lawsuit alleges
According to the complaint and Chicago Sun-Times reporting, Zaragoza ordered a Chalupa Supreme box meal at a Northwest Side Taco Bell on July 11. The meal contained fresh shredded iceberg lettuce, the lawsuit says.
The complaint says Zaragoza’s symptoms intensified over the following days. By July 13, he was sweaty, feverish and dizzy and had to leave work, according to the filing. He went to the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on July 15, the Sun-Times reported.
Zaragoza told the newspaper that he lost about 20 pounds in a month and continued to experience low energy, pain and a reduced appetite while recovering. According to the complaint, he was not tested for a parasite until a third clinic visit on July 26, and the positive result came back August 4.
Sanchez, who did not become ill, is also a plaintiff. The lawsuit seeks damages for alleged pain and suffering, medical expenses, missed work and other losses. It also claims Sanchez lost sleep, altered the household diet to accommodate Zaragoza’s nearly all-liquid diet and took time away from work and personal obligations to care for him.
FDA investigation remains ongoing
The FDA says its investigation concerns a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico.
In its current update dated August 27, the FDA reported 11,458 illnesses in 20 states, 495 hospitalizations and two deaths. Illinois is among the states with reported cases. The agency said inspections and sampling at iceberg lettuce growers and a processing facility in Mexico remain ongoing.
The FDA says Taylor Farms de Mexico began voluntarily removing the affected iceberg lettuce from the U.S. market on July 17. The recall includes food-service products and certain Marketside salad and shredded-lettuce products with specified best-by dates. The FDA says recalled product should no longer be available, and Taco Bell has indicated it stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17.
FDA records confirm that recalled iceberg lettuce was distributed to Illinois. That finding does not by itself establish that the lettuce served in Zaragoza’s Chicago meal was recalled product or that it caused his illness. Those questions are part of the lawsuit’s unresolved allegations and the broader public-health investigation.
What Chicago residents should do
The FDA says Cyclospora infection commonly causes diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Fever, vomiting, body aches and headaches may also occur, and some infected people have no symptoms. Symptoms can relapse, and untreated illness can lead to dehydration and serious complications.
Chicago residents who develop symptoms should contact a health care provider, especially if they ate shredded iceberg lettuce during the two weeks before becoming ill. The FDA also advises people who previously purchased or received recalled lettuce to carefully clean and sanitize surfaces or containers the food touched and to follow its food-safety and cleaning guidance.
The Chicago lawsuit and the FDA investigation remain unresolved. Residents should use current FDA recall information and consult a health care provider for medical concerns, rather than treating allegations in the complaint as final findings.
Sources
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