Kansas Resident Latest to Seek Legal Representation
Kansas City, Kansas — July 28, 2026 — As the number of victims in the national Cyclospora outbreak continues to spiral out of control, a very real picture of the human toll is becoming clearer.
One Kansas resident, Nicole Belote, is a single mom of two, including one developmentally disabled adult child. She turned 48 this week – only did so in the hospital while suffering from Cyclosporiasis, caused by the ingestion of the parasite, Cyclospora, at Taco Bell. She bought a Taco Supreme taco on July 1, 2026, only to become extremely ill on July 9th, just over a week later (the average incubation period is 2-14 days).
Nicole Belote — Kansas City, Kansas
On July 13th, when her condition deteriorated, Nicole was rushed to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. There she was given IV fluids, placed on oxygen, underwent significant testing, and provided medications, including pain meds, antinausea medication, and antibiotics that work to kill Cyclospora. Because she suffers from COPD, she was monitored around the clock.
On July 16th Nicole was finally discharged, returning home to be with her daughters, but her ordeal is not yet over. Because she suffers from COPD, the dehydration exacerbated her lung function meaning she is currently still on 4 liters each evening, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
According to Nicole:
I was discharged a week and a half ago and I’m still suffering from an incredible amount of fatigue. I’m back to work, but I am now going in a half hour earlier than normal to allow myself extra time. I have no energy after work to do much of anything. And everything has literally become a chore. Cyclospora was literally the worst experience I’ve ever had. From the first day of symptoms, which was on July 9th, until I was admitted into the hospital on July 13th, not only was I experiencing the watery diarrhea, but it was so bad that I was having fecal incontinence multiple times a day. I was vomiting . . . watery diarrhea . . . I couldn’t eat. I was incredibly bloated and I had a blinding migraine. I had zero energy coupled with muscle aches and pains.
Nicole continues to recover at home, while trying to manage her busy lifestyle. She also remains under the care of her medical professionals.
Yet another Kansan hospitalized – According to Simon, about 1–in–10 victims contacting his firm have been hospitalized
Cyclospora illnesses are, by all accounts, horrible experiences. The illness can last 30-60 days, untreated, but most people recover without being hospitalized. But as many as 1-in-10, according to national food poisoning lawyer Ron Simon, report having to be hospitalized.
The Ugly Truth about Cyclospora
Cyclospora is found on fruits and vegetables. But it comes from the human feces of the last victim. In short, an infected person “sheds” the cyclospora when they have a bowel movement. The cyclospora then needs time to mature outside the body as “sporulation” occurs. After a matter of days or weeks at temperatures between 70° to 90°, the “sporulated oocysts” contaminate fruits and vegetables and are ingested by another person. Between 2 days and 2 weeks later, that person begins to suffer the symptoms of Cyclosporiasis.
Nicole Hires National Food Safety Attorney Ron Simon
Nicole has hired nationally renowned food safety attorney Ron Simon and America’s food safety law firm, Ron Simon & Associates. Mr. Simon and his law firm have established the Taco Bell Cyclospora Claim Center to assist victims in the outbreak. The Claim Center can be reached toll-free at 1-888-335-4901 or by visiting the firm’s website at https://www.ronsimonassociates.com/.
Five States at the Center of the Taco Bell / Taylor Farms Cyclospora Outbreak
Federal and state health investigators have now confirmed that shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia is responsible for a massive outbreak of Cyclosporiasis. The lettuce was grown in Mexico by Taylor Farms and imported to the United States for wide-ranging distribution, including to Taco Bell. Taco Bell has removed all shredded lettuce from all stores and said in a statement saying it was “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.”
About Food Safety Attorney Ron Simon
| Over the last 33 years, Ron Simon and his colleagues have prosecuted thousands of food poisoning cases for victims across the United States. His work has resulted in numerous upgrades to food safety procedures in Fortune 500 companies and in legislation designed to protect consumers from dangerous food-borne pathogens. Mr. Simon and his clients have been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and virtually all other major television networks and print media. Mr. Simon and his legal team have collected over $850,000,000 for their clients. Mr. Simon currently represents hundreds of confirmed victims and continues to accept clients in this massive outbreak. He can be reached at 1-888-335-4901 and [email protected]. |
