Lawsuit Summary

More than 50 sixth-grade students at Fowler Middle School in the Tigard-Tualatin School District in Oregon were served pretzels seasoned with crushed oven cleaner during a lunch break in October 2025, according to a lawsuit filed against the district. The suit seeks $1 million in damages on behalf of one student and his family, according to court documents obtained by KPTV.

The complaint names the lead kitchen worker and Fowler Middle School Principal Cindy Pellicci as defendants. The filing alleges that the pretzels were prepared and served without the knowledge that the seasoning used was actually a cleaning product.

The incident occurred during a scheduled lunch period, and the lawsuit contends that students were exposed to a caustic substance before staff recognized what had happened. The district has not publicly confirmed the number of students affected, but the complaint states that more than 50 sixth-graders were served the pretzels.

Complaint Details Discovery of Chemical in Snack

According to the complaint, 37 pretzels were coated with crushed Alto-Sham oven cleaner and served to dozens of students. Student L.L. reported immediate burning in his mouth and throat after eating a pretzel, the lawsuit states. Substitute kitchen worker Chloe Larson tasted the seasoning, felt a burn, discovered the discarded packet had been used as seasoning and pressed the lead kitchen worker to reveal it was labeled oven cleaner, the filing said.

Staff contacted Poison Control about 27 minutes after realizing what happened, and the school emailed parents about two hours later, according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges L.L. was kept in a room for about an hour without his parents being notified and was sent back to class after staff said he was asymptomatic.

The filing describes a sequence in which the chemical was not identified until after students had already consumed the pretzels. The complaint does not state how many students reported symptoms, but it alleges that the school's response was delayed and that parents were not promptly informed.

District Response and Police Investigation

The school district determined the pretzels were seasoned with oven cleaner because of 'human error,' according to KPTV. Police closed their investigation when they could not establish probable cause, the outlet reported. The Tigard-Tualatin School District told KPTV it cannot comment on pending litigation and said the lead kitchen worker is still employed in the district. The district did not respond to a request for comment from The Post, according to the report.

The district's characterization of the incident as 'human error' contrasts with the lawsuit's allegations of systemic failures in chemical storage and staff training. The complaint claims the district failed to properly store caustic chemicals away from food and failed to train staff, according to KPTV.

The police investigation's closure without charges means that no criminal accountability has been established. The lawsuit remains the primary avenue for addressing the incident, and the district has not elaborated on what specific measures, if any, have been taken since October 2025.

Safety and Training Allegations in Lawsuit

The lawsuit claims the district failed to properly store caustic chemicals away from food and failed to train staff, according to KPTV. The complaint alleges the crushed cleaner was allowed to be left on a prep counter, the outlet reported. Oven cleaner contains sodium hydroxide, a highly corrosive chemical, according to the complaint.

The student's mother said he came home with a sore throat and stomach pain and has since experienced lingering anxiety about eating food at school, according to the lawsuit. The complaint does not specify the extent of physical injuries beyond the immediate burning sensation and subsequent symptoms.

The allegations raise questions about standard practices for handling cleaning products in school kitchens. According to the complaint, the lead kitchen worker did not initially disclose that the packet was labeled oven cleaner, and the substitute worker only learned of the danger after tasting the seasoning.

Case Pending as Questions Remain

The lawsuit seeks $1 million in damages and remains pending, according to court documents obtained by KPTV. No court ruling has been reported in the case. The district has declined to comment on the pending litigation, and questions about chemical storage and parent notification procedures remain part of the allegations.

The complaint's claims about delayed notification and inadequate training have not been independently verified. The district's statement that the lead kitchen worker remains employed suggests that no disciplinary action has been publicly announced.

The case highlights broader concerns about safety protocols in school food service operations. As the litigation proceeds, the court may examine whether the district's policies met reasonable standards for preventing accidental chemical contamination.

Reference:

1. Lawsuit with a twist: More than 50 students served pretzels seasoned with oven cleaner. https://nypost.com/2026/10/25/us-news/oregon-students-served-pretzels-seasoned-with-oven-cleaner-lawsuit/

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