A family in Oregon is suing a school district after a lunchroom mistake left dozens of sixth graders eating pretzels coated with oven cleaner.
OregonLive reported on Sunday, October 25, that the Lawsuit, filed nearly a year after the incident, alleges that one child experienced painful symptoms and was kept from contacting his parents while school staff assessed him.
The family is seeking up to $950,220.85 in damages.
More Than 50 Oregon Students Ate Contaminated Pretzels
On Monday, October 20, 2025, students at Fowler Middle School in Tigard were served pretzels during lunch, per KSLA.
According to school records and a complaint KPTV reviewed, the pretzels were sprinkled with crushed Alto-Shaam oven cleaner instead of salt.
About 37 pretzels were distributed, but more than 50 sixth graders ate at least part of one because some shared the snacks. The cleaner contains sodium hydroxide, a corrosive substance that can cause burns if swallowed.
The family filed its complaint in Washington County Circuit Court on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
It names the Tigard-Tualatin School District, the lead kitchen worker, and Principal Cindy Pellicci as defendants.
Family Says Child Felt Burning and Wasn’t Allowed to Call Home
The student, identified in the Lawsuit as L.L., reportedly felt burning in his mouth and throat immediately after eating a pretzel, The New York Post reported.
The complaint also describes chest pain, stomach problems, and anxiety about eating school food.
According to the filing, staff kept him in a room for roughly an hour without notifying his parents and denied requests to call home.
The Lawsuit says he was returned to class after being described as having no symptoms.
His mother said he later complained of a sore throat and stomach pain.
The filing also alleges staff waited about 27 minutes after discovering the error before contacting Poison Control. The school’s first email to families was sent nearly two hours after the students ate the pretzels, per KBTX.
How Did Oven Cleaner End Up on School Lunch?
Substitute kitchen worker Chloe Larson noticed something was wrong after tasting the seasoning used on the pretzels, Fox5 reported.
Larson told the outlet that the substance burned and that she tracked down its discarded packaging. She said she pressed the lead kitchen worker to check the label and urged staff to stop students from eating.
Earlier district findings attributed the incident to “human error.” The district said a cleaning tablet was left in the food preparation area and later mistaken for salt.
The Lawsuit alleges inadequate chemical storage, poor staff training, and unsafe kitchen practices, per WSMV.
What Happens Next in the Nearly $1 Million Lawsuit?
The complaint includes seven claims, including negligence, unlawful confinement, and civil rights violations. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Tigard police previously closed their investigation without filing criminal charges, citing insufficient probable cause, according to WOWT.
According to WSMV, the school district could not comment on pending litigation. It also confirmed that the district still employs the lead kitchen worker.
As of Friday, October 23, an attorney had appeared for the defendants but had not filed a substantive response, KPTV reported.
More Than 50 Oregon Students Served Pretzels Seasoned With Oven Cleaner Instead of Salt