taco-bell.gifA food poisoning lawsuit was filed in Muskegon County Circuit Court on behalf of Salmonella victim Gary Erdman today against Yum Brands, Inc., parent company of Taco Bell and Chicago Diversified Foods Corporation, the franchisor of a Whitehall Taco Bell restaurant.

This is the third lawsuit filed by Marler Clark in relation to a nationwide 2010 Salmonella outbreak that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says made at least 155 people ill in 21 states. Two strains of Salmonella were implicated in the outbreak: Salmonella Hartford and Salmonella Baildon. The Salmonella Hartford outbreak caused 75 illnesses; the Salmonella Bialdon outbreak caused 80 illnesses.

Salmonella is a bacterium that causes one of the most common intestinal infections in the United States – Salmonellosis. A Salmonella infection is characterized by diarrhea, which may be bloody, stomach cramps, and vomiting. In rare cases, a Salmonella infection can lead to reactive arthritis.  A bit(e) more on Taco Bell Lawsuits:

Taco Bell Salmonella Hartford and Baildon Outbreaks, Nationwide, 2010

Taco Bell Hepatitis A Outbreak, Florida, 2000

Taco Bell E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak, Northeast, 2006