NY Judge Dismisses Spicy Salsa Lawsuit by German Tourist

A federal judge in New York has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a German tourist who claimed a popular taqueria's salsa caused him severe physical and emotional distress due to its spiciness.

Faycal Manz, a sales engineer from Schemmerhofen, Germany, visited the Times Square location of Los Tacos No. 1 in August 2024 during a trip to New York City. According to court documents, Manz, who had never eaten tacos before and generally avoided spicy foods due to a known sensitivity, purchased three tacos and added generous portions of salsa from the restaurant's self-service bar. He applied red salsa to two tacos and green salsa to the third without tasting it first or asking staff about its contents. After one bite of the green salsa-topped taco, Manz reported immediate burning in his tongue and mouth, a rapid increase in heart rate, facial redness, and subsequent gastrointestinal issues including diarrhea, acid reflux, stomach cramps, and mouth sores that persisted for days.

Manz filed the suit in October 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking $100,000 in damages. He alleged negligence by the restaurant for failing to warn customers about the...