QDOBA Class Action Over Salmonella-Contaminated Jalapeños

Two consumers initiated a class action lawsuit against QDOBA Restaurant Corp., Butterfly Equity LP, and jalapeño supplier Coast Citrus Distributors LLC. The plaintiffs contend that jalapeños provided by Coast Citrus and served at QDOBA were the source of a multi-state Salmonella outbreak, with initial reports linking the illness to jalapeños grown in Sinaloa, Mexico.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to ensure the jalapeños were safe for consumption and did not warn consumers about the risk of Salmonella infection through proper labeling or warnings. The claims assert violations of several state laws, including California's Unfair Competition Law, Colorado's Consumer Protection Act, and Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act, alongside claims for strict product liability, negligence, and unjust enrichment.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory, statutory, and punitive damages, as well as restitution, and an order preventing QDOBA and Coast Citrus from continuing to sell the jalapeños with the current labeling. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, and the plaintiffs are seeking to represent a nationwide class of consumers.