Tigard-Tualatin School District sued over oven cleaner in pretzels

A lawsuit has been filed against the Tigard-Tualatin School District seeking approximately $1 million in damages following an incident where middle school students were served pretzels seasoned with crushed oven cleaner.

The incident occurred in October 2025 during a sixth-grade lunch at Fowler Middle School in Tigard, Oregon. According to court documents, about 37 pretzels were coated with Alto-Sham concentrated oven cleaner, a caustic chemical containing sodium hydroxide. The school district attributed the error to human error, stating a kitchen worker mistook the chemical for salt.

The lawsuit names the school district, the lead kitchen worker, and Fowler Middle School Principal Cindy Pellicci as defendants. It alleges negligence, strict liability, unlawful confinement, and civil rights violations. One student, identified as L. L., reportedly experienced burning in the mouth and throat, chest pain, and stomach pain after ingestion. The filing claims the student was monitored for an hour without parental notification and was returned to class after being deemed asymptomatic, despite subsequent pain at home.

While Tigard Police reviewed the matter last year, no criminal charges were filed. The lawsuit seeks up to $950,220.85 in damages.