A woman's visit to Panda Express turned into a nightmare when she discovered a dangerous object in her food, leading to a rushed trip to the hospital.
Miriam Yocupicio's shocking experience has prompted her to file a lawsuit against the popular restaurant chain.
According to local reports, Yocupicio ended up in the hospital after consuming a few bites of her regular fast food order from a Panda Express restaurant in Kent, Washington.
She described the experience, saying, "I tried to swallow, but when I swallowed, I felt it, and I got really bad ear pain. I rushed myself to the hospital."
“I try to stay with my mouth wide open, just so air could flow because I thought if I close my mouth I can't breathe. Or if I swallow then I'm gonna get that one that sticks down my throat,” she added.
Yocupicio believes she had swallowed a sharp metal wire, which was part of a bristle from a grill brush.
A spokesperson from Panda Express responded to the incident, stating, "The health and safety of our guests is always our top priority, and we are committed to the highest standards of operations."
They mentioned that they were saddened by the incident and are conducting further investigations to understand the events that transpired.
When Yocupicio arrived at the hospital, she hoped to determine the cause of her discomfort. An X-ray confirmed the presence of an object lodged in her throat.
Initial attempts to remove the 2-inch wire were unsuccessful, leading to a wait of over 10 hours before a specialist could successfully extract it. This relieved her breathing difficulties and potential risks.
Yocupicio, along with her attorney Roseann Torress based in California, plans to argue negligence on the part of the restaurant and seek restitution.
Torress stated, "This should never have happened, and it should never happen again... and going forward." They have requested damages in their complaint.
A family has filed a lawsuit against fast-food chain Wendy's, seeking $20 million in damages when their daughter suffered permanent brain damage after consuming food from one of its restaurants.
According to the lawsuit, Aspen visited the Wendy's in Jenison in August 2022 after her softball practice. She ordered a 'Biggie Bag' meal, which included a hamburger, chicken nuggets, and french fries.
Unfortunately, three days after eating the meal, Aspen started feeling sick. She had nausea, stomach pain, fever, and diarrhea. Her health got worse, and her mother rushed her to the hospital when she noticed blood in Aspen's stool.
According to the lawsuit, doctors diagnosed Aspen with a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
This illness is caused by an infection from a type of E. coli bacteria that produces a harmful toxin called Shiga toxin. Moreover, Aspen's condition worsened as she was also found to have stage three kidney failure.
The family's lawyer expressed their outrage, stating that Aspen's life had been permanently affected due to Wendy's apparent neglect of public health and safety.
Aspen has since undergone extensive medical treatments and therapies.
The lawsuit also revealed concerning health inspection results at the Wendy's franchise, including violations such as moldy strawberries, spoiled tomatoes, and improper food storage.
