Chipotle customer claims she bit into a RODENT that was inside her meal... only for Mexican chain to offer grim excuse
A hospital worker suffered permanent injuries after biting into a dead rodent that was inside a bowl of food she ordered from Mexican chain Chipotle, a lawsuit alleges.
Gia Bernhardt, 24, claims she chomped down on the vermin after ordering a burrito bowl from her local restaurant in New York's Upper East Side in January of this year.
Bernhardt, who is also suing delivery firm DoorDash and the unidentified delivery driver, said she 'bit into a rodent contained within the meal she was consuming.'
Her lawsuit, which was filed December 1, added: 'The rodent was within the plaintiff's mouth after biting into the meal.' Bernhardt didn't specify whether she believed the creature to be a mouse or a rat.
The lawsuit states that Bernhardt, a patient relationship manager at Clover Meds in New York, sustained serious injuries and suffered pain, shock, and severe mental anguish.
Bernhardt claims the injuries permanent and prevent her from performing her usual activities and duties, according to the filing.
Chipotle dismissed the allegations in a statement to the Daily Mail: 'We strongly deny the allegations in this complaint, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.'
The fast food chain insists what Bernhardt claims was a rodent was actually a piece of chicken offal, which a diner could reasonably expect to find in one of its meals.
Gia Bernhardt, 24, filed a lawsuit against Chipotle, DoorDash, and an unnamed driver after she allegedly 'bit into' a rodent concealed within one of its burrito bowls
A photo obtained by Pix11 of what Bernhardt claims is the rodent she found inside her burrito bowl. Chipotle says the item was actually a piece of chicken offal
'Internal agents of Chipotle analyzed the evidence both in person and in photographs and are confident the object is a chicken tendon/ligament,' wrote Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer, in an email.
The health and safety of our employees and guests is our highest priority, and we have industry-leading food safety practices in place across our restaurants.'
DoorDash and the 'John Doe' delivery driver were both alleged to have been responsible for the Bernhardt's troubling experience.
The unnamed dasher, 'improperly and negligently delivered the product in an unsafe and unsanitary manner,' according to the document.
The Daily Mail has reached out to DoorDash for comment.
In a photo obtained by Pix11, the alleged piece of cooked rodent could be seen in a Chipotle napkin.
The Chipotle on the Upper East Side that allegedly served the rodent
Chipotle denied the allegations in a statement to the Daily mail: 'We strongly deny the allegations in this complaint, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims'
Bernhardt's lawsuit never listed the a specific type of rodent or details of Bernhardt's injuries
Attorney Charles Gucciardo, Bernhardt's attorney, told Pix11 that she 'immediately became sick,' vomiting after she 'actually bit off a piece of the rodent.'
'She showed the rodent to the three employees who were present. They tried to convince her that what she had there was a piece of chicken, but the ears, nose, and tail demonstrated otherwise,' added Gucciardo.
The restaurant staff threw away the alleged rodent after Bernhardt returned the food, according to the attorney.
Bernhardt went to the hospital after the incident to undergo treatment and testing.
The filing never listed a specific type of rodent or details of Bernhardt's injuries.
