Throughout its investigation, the CDC did not name Taco Bell, instead only referring to a "Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain" dubbed “Restaurant A” as the source of the outbreak. In the days and weeks that followed the announcement the CDC never named the company and defended its decision statig that the contaminated food was no longer in circulation and, thus was no longer a risk to consumers.
On February 1, 2012 Food Safety News, a daily online news source published by Marler Clark, published a story naming Taco Bell as the source of the outbreak.
On February 21, 2012 Marler Clark filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Oklahoma woman who became ill with a Salmonella infection after consuming food from Taco Bell. The law firm represented additional victims in claims against the restaurant chain, as well. All claims have been resolved.