BY ADITI MISHRA
On October 20th 2025, more than 50 students allegedly ate pretzels laced with oven cleaner after a kitchen employee accidentally used crushed oven cleaner instead of salt while preparing 37 pretzels. The incident happened at Fowler Middle School in Tigard. The family sued the school district on September 9th 2026, claiming damages of up to $950,220.85. This has raised concerns over food safety in schools and how cleaning products are managed.
Over 50 students allegedly ate some or all of the affected pretzels. The school district said it was due to human error. One of the kitchen workers accidentally used the crushed oven cleaner, thinking it was salt.
Students started to complain about a burning sensation in their mouths and throats. The substitute kitchen worker, Chloe Larson, tasted the seasoning and felt a burning sensation.
The lawsuit was filed against Tigard-Tualatin School District, Fowler Middle School principal Cindy Pellicci, and the head kitchen worker.
The lawsuit was filed due to one of the students, referred to as L.L., experiencing a burning sensation in their mouth and throat after eating one of the contaminated pretzels. They then went on to experience chest pains and stomach discomfort. The family said they also became anxious about eating food provided at school.
The oven cleaner contained sodium hydroxide, which is used in some cleaning products. Eating this type of caustic chemical can cause serious damage to the mouth, throat, and digestive system.
Symptoms may include:
1. Burning sensation in the mouth and throat
2. Chest or stomach pain
3. Vomiting
4. Difficulty swallowing
5. Excessive salivation
This depends on the type of chemical and how much was eaten. Some injuries may be serious.
If you think you or someone else has eaten oven cleaner or a caustic product, seek immediate medical attention. Don’t induce vomiting. Follow the advice given by emergency services or a poison control centre.
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The lawsuit claims that it took staff around 27 minutes to call poison control after they realised what had happened. It also claims the student was left in a room for around an hour whilst being monitored before sending him to the class.
According to the complaint, his parents weren’t contacted until almost two hours after the incident occurred. The family are also claiming that the student wasn’t allowed to contact them whilst being monitored.
The family are claiming the school didn’t react quickly enough to the potential chemical exposure. They also claim that the parents weren’t involved in any decisions regarding the child.
The families are claiming up to $950,220.85 from the school district and other defendants.
They’re claiming negligence, unsafe management of cleaning products, unlawful detention, and civil rights violations. The school didn’t manage the cleaning products correctly or ensure they weren’t in the food preparation area. They also didn’t take the correct steps to prevent the chemical from being used on the food.
The family are also claiming that the school didn’t manage the situation correctly after finding out about the mistake. These claims will be looked into by the court.
The school district describes the incident as a human error. Previously, they said student safety and well-being were their priority, and they identified those who had eaten the affected pretzels.
The district later said they couldn’t comment on the ongoing lawsuit. According to the reports, the employee mentioned in the case was still working for the district.
Tigard Police investigated the incident but didn’t press any criminal charges. According to reports by The Independent, police said they couldn’t find any probable cause that a crime had been committed.
This case shows how schools manage their cleaning products, train their kitchen staff, and how they react if students may have eaten something harmful. Cleaning products should be stored separately from food. They should be clearly labelled so they aren’t accidentally exposed. If, by accident, a chemical is served with the food, staff should identify those who have eaten it and follow the advice given by contacting poison control or emergency medical services. Parents should be contacted quickly.
The lawsuit will look into the claims made by the family. This will help determine if the defendants were legally responsible.
(Rh/AM)