US judge dismisses $100,000 suit over spiciness of New York taqueria’s sauce

March 16, 2026

TL;DR

A German tourist, Faycal Manz, sued a New York City taqueria for $100,000, claiming their salsa was excessively spicy and caused unpleasant symptoms.
US District Judge Dale Ho dismissed the lawsuit, stating Manz failed to prove negligence and did not demonstrate an inability to ascertain the salsa's spice level.
The judge highlighted that Manz admitted to having a history of gastrointestinal problems and avoiding spicy foods, yet did not inquire about the salsa's contents.
Manz had filed other lawsuits during his US trip, including one against Walmart for discrimination and another against the NYPD, both of which were dismissed or dropped.
The court noted that Mexican food, and specifically salsa, is often expected to be spicy.

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