A lawsuit has been filed against Campbell’s and Walmart by a Florida-based mother and her daughter, alleging that they consumed SpaghettiOs tainted with parasites or worms, rendering the product unfit for consumption.
In the legal complaint lodged on Tuesday, Mary Hubbard stated that she became aware of the alleged contamination on June 6, 2024, when they started eating the SpaghettiOs at their residence in Okeechobee County. It was mentioned that “worms or parasites appeared to be actively moving within the food.” In substantiation of this claim, Hubbard made videos that apparently portrayed worm-like organisms moving in the food item.
According to her, the pasta product was purchased at Walmart, which is also named in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs, Hubbard and her daughter identified as PL, argue that they experienced parasitic infections after eating the SpaghettiOs, leading to various health issues. Hubbard suffered from a gastrointestinal illness and sepsis, while her daughter encountered nausea and vomiting.
In response to the allegations, Campbell’s, headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims as baseless and expressed its intention to strongly refute them. Walmart, located in Bentonville, Arkansas, stated that it would respond to the allegations in court, underscoring that its customers’ health and safety are of paramount importance.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages amounting to a minimum of US$75,000 from both Campbell’s and Walmart, citing alleged negligence and violation of federal food safety regulations. The father of young PL is also a plaintiff in the case, but lawyers representing the plaintiffs did not provide additional details when asked.
Introduced to the market in 1965, SpaghettiOs was touted as “the world’s first spoonable spaghetti.” It is not uncommon for food manufacturers to face legal action over alleged contamination, often precipitated by lab tests, product recalls, or health alerts. For example, in April 2025, a public health alert was issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service for 12 varieties of soup, including four Campbell’s brand soups, on grounds of potential contamination with wood present in a federally regulated ingredient, cilantro.
The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida, and has been assigned to US District Judge Aileen Cannon.
What is the alleged contamination of Campbell’s SpaghettiOs about?
The mother and daughter, Mary Hubbard and PL, claim they discovered worms or parasites in the SpaghettiOs they had purchased from Walmart. This allegedly led to parasitic infections and various illnesses.
What are the companies’ response to this accusation?
Both Campbell’s and Walmart have refuted the claims and intend to defend vigorously against the allegations. Walmart also highlighted that it considers customers’ health and safety a top priority.
What compensation are the plaintiffs seeking with their lawsuit?
They are seeking unspecified damages of at least US$75,000 from Campbell’s and Walmart, citing negligence and violation of federal food safety laws.
