Think your takeout is safe? You won’t believe what this woman says she found in her NYC chicken wrap
- Replies 0
Ordering takeaway is one of life’s little pleasures—especially when you’re after a night off from cooking or a cheeky treat.
But for one New York woman, a simple chicken wrap from her local Mediterranean spot turned into a nightmare she says she’ll never forget.
Mary Elizabeth Smith, 43, from Manhattan, claims she was left permanently traumatized after biting into her chicken wrap from Create Astoria, a popular restaurant in Queens, only
According to legal documents filed in the New York County Supreme Court, Smith purchased the wrap to go on November 17, 2023.
She says she took a bite and immediately realised something was terribly wrong. Her attorney, Robert Menna, explained: ordered a chicken wrap, and when she bit into it, there was a piece of a finger there.
Luckily, she didn’t swallow it. But it still traumatized her. Smith’s legal team claims the fingertip was sent to a lab, where it was confirmed to be
human tissue from a female. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant’s negligence caused Smith to suffer serious injuries and pain, shock, and mental anguish.
To make matters worse, Smith says she had to undergo a course of strong antiretroviral therapy to protect against potential exposure to infectious diseases—a process that’s not only physically taxing but emotionally distressing as well.
The restaurant, however, is having none of it. Create Astoria’s owner, Teddy Karagiannis, has called the lawsuit completely fraudulent and ludicrous, insisting that such an incident is impossible given the restaurant’s strict food safety protocols.
He claims that all food goes through multiple inspection points before being served and that there were no female employees working on the day in question.
Karagiannis even alleges that Smith has refused to allow DNA testing on the fingertip, which he believes would clear his staff of any involvement.
Read also: That label said "fresh"—but what a Costco shopper found tells a different story
He’s so adamant about the restaurant’s innocence that he’s planning to countersue Smith for slander.
Meanwhile, the restaurant’s insurance company, Liberty Mutual, has denied Smith’s allegations, and the case is now heading to court.
This isn’t the first time a customer has claimed to find something horrifying in their meal. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases in the US where diners have allegedly discovered human body parts or blood in their food.
While these stories are rare, they do raise important questions about food safety and what recourse customers have when things go wrong.
Read also: What was really in her salad? NYC woman claims rat in bowl, eatery says not possible
In Australia, food safety standards are among the strictest in the world, with regular inspections and strict protocols in place to prevent contamination.
But as this story shows, even the most routine meal can sometimes go awry. And if you’re ever in doubt, remember that you have the right to safe, uncontaminated food—whether you’re dining in, taking away, or ordering online.
Read next: Burger King worker runs store alone for 12 hours—and then loses her job
We know this story is enough to put anyone off their lunch, but we want to hear from you! Have you ever had a shocking or unpleasant experience with takeaway food? How did you handle it? Do you trust your local restaurants and takeaways, or do you prefer to cook at home? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below—let’s get the conversation started!
But for one New York woman, a simple chicken wrap from her local Mediterranean spot turned into a nightmare she says she’ll never forget.
Mary Elizabeth Smith, 43, from Manhattan, claims she was left permanently traumatized after biting into her chicken wrap from Create Astoria, a popular restaurant in Queens, only
According to legal documents filed in the New York County Supreme Court, Smith purchased the wrap to go on November 17, 2023.
She says she took a bite and immediately realised something was terribly wrong. Her attorney, Robert Menna, explained: ordered a chicken wrap, and when she bit into it, there was a piece of a finger there.
Luckily, she didn’t swallow it. But it still traumatized her. Smith’s legal team claims the fingertip was sent to a lab, where it was confirmed to be
human tissue from a female. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant’s negligence caused Smith to suffer serious injuries and pain, shock, and mental anguish.
You won’t believe what this woman says she found in her NYC chicken wrap. Image source: Advocator SY / Unsplash
To make matters worse, Smith says she had to undergo a course of strong antiretroviral therapy to protect against potential exposure to infectious diseases—a process that’s not only physically taxing but emotionally distressing as well.
The restaurant, however, is having none of it. Create Astoria’s owner, Teddy Karagiannis, has called the lawsuit completely fraudulent and ludicrous, insisting that such an incident is impossible given the restaurant’s strict food safety protocols.
He claims that all food goes through multiple inspection points before being served and that there were no female employees working on the day in question.
Karagiannis even alleges that Smith has refused to allow DNA testing on the fingertip, which he believes would clear his staff of any involvement.
Read also: That label said "fresh"—but what a Costco shopper found tells a different story
He’s so adamant about the restaurant’s innocence that he’s planning to countersue Smith for slander.
Meanwhile, the restaurant’s insurance company, Liberty Mutual, has denied Smith’s allegations, and the case is now heading to court.
This isn’t the first time a customer has claimed to find something horrifying in their meal. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases in the US where diners have allegedly discovered human body parts or blood in their food.
While these stories are rare, they do raise important questions about food safety and what recourse customers have when things go wrong.
Read also: What was really in her salad? NYC woman claims rat in bowl, eatery says not possible
In Australia, food safety standards are among the strictest in the world, with regular inspections and strict protocols in place to prevent contamination.
But as this story shows, even the most routine meal can sometimes go awry. And if you’re ever in doubt, remember that you have the right to safe, uncontaminated food—whether you’re dining in, taking away, or ordering online.
Read next: Burger King worker runs store alone for 12 hours—and then loses her job
