TIGARD, OREGON — A family has filed a lawsuit against Fowler Middle School and the Tigard-Tualatin School District after their son ate a pretzel topped with crushed oven cleaner during school lunch. The suit seeks $950,220.85 and names the district, the school’s principal and the kitchen leader. The pretzels were served during a sixth-grade lunch period on October 20, 2025. The family says the boy suffered burning in his mouth and throat, stomach pain and lasting anxiety about school food.
Crushed Cleaning Tablets Mistaken for Salt
Staff had crushed Alto-Shaam oven cleaning tablets, put them in a bag and left the bag on a counter. Someone then used the contents as seasoning on the pretzels. Parent Kaylee Spiering told KPTV that the bag was mistaken for salt.
A total of 37 pretzels were served before the contamination was noticed. According to later reporting, more than 50 students ate all or part of the pretzels, with some sharing pieces. The cleaner contains sodium hydroxide, a caustic chemical.
Parent Describes Scene of Sick Children
Spiering’s 11-year-old son was one of the students who ate a pretzel. When she reached the school, she said some children were crying, and others looked worse. She said many looked pale and were holding their stomachs.
Spiering said the school did not notify her until nearly 1:30 p.m. By then, she had already spoken with her son, picked him up and taken him to urgent care as a precaution. She said he had a burning throat, headaches and stomach pain. Her son now skips school lunches, and she wants the district to explain how it will prevent this from happening again.
Lawsuit Lists Seven Claims Against District
Court documents list seven claims against the district, principal and kitchen leader. They include strict liability, negligence, unlawful confinement and civil rights violations. The case has not gone to trial, and the district says it will not comment on ongoing litigation.
The filing says the student, identified as L.L., felt “burning” in his mouth and throat after eating the pretzel. It says he also had an upset stomach, chest pain and anxiety about eating school food. According to the suit, he was held in a room for almost an hour, was not allowed to call his parents, and was sent back to class while still feeling unwell. The lawsuit also claims Poison Control was not called until 11:03 a.m., about 27 minutes after staff realized what happened.
School Response and Poison Center Guidance
Principal Cindy Pellicci emailed families that day, saying every family whose student reported eating a pretzel was contacted individually. She told parents to call poison control, contact their medical provider or call 911 if symptoms continued. Nursing staff monitored the students who ate the pretzels.
The Oregon Poison Center said the cleaner could cause a burning sensation or vomiting if a significant amount is swallowed. Students were told to rinse their mouths with water, eat bland foods like a granola bar or bread, and watch for symptoms for 24 hours. The center got 20 calls about the incident within one day.
Police Found No Criminal Intent
School officials blamed the event on “human error.” Tigard Police worked with the district through a school resource officer and said they did not believe there was criminal intent. The case was closed after that finding.
Administrators have said student safety and health remain their top priority. For the family, the lawsuit is about accountability and making sure no other child goes through the same thing.
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