Manhattan, New York — A routine food delivery on the Upper East Side has turned into a disturbing legal battle after a 24-year-old woman claimed she bit into a rodent hidden inside her burrito bowl, prompting a lawsuit against Chipotle, DoorDash, and an unnamed delivery driver.
The allegations, now filed in New York County Supreme Court, have raised fresh concerns about food safety, delivery handling, and corporate accountability within fast-casual dining chains.
Lawsuit Claims Meal Contained Rodent Inside Burrito Bowl
According to the complaint, Gia Bernhardt, a Manhattan resident, ordered a burrito bowl with chips and guacamole from the Chipotle located between East 84th and East 85th Street on Third Avenue. She placed the order through the DoorDash app on January 11 as part of a routine meal.
What happened next, she alleges, was anything but routine.
The lawsuit states that as Bernhardt began eating her burrito bowl, she suddenly felt something unusual in her mouth and bit into what she claims was a rodent concealed inside the food. The filing asserts that the rodent was already mixed into the bowl and that her initial bite brought it directly into her mouth, resulting in immediate shock, fear, and physical injury.
Court documents describe the moment as traumatic, leaving the customer with “severe bodily injuries,” pain, mental anguish, and significant emotional distress.
Chipotle Denies Allegations, Calling Object a Chicken Ligament
In response to the lawsuit, Chipotle strongly denied the allegation that any rodent ended up in the food. The company said its internal review showed no evidence supporting the claim.
Representatives stated that company food safety specialists conducted both in-person and photographic evaluations and determined that the object presented was not a rodent, but rather a chicken tendon or ligament, a naturally occurring component in some cuts of meat.
“The health and safety of our employees and guests is our highest priority,” the company said. “We maintain industry-leading food-safety practices across all our restaurants and will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.”
Chipotle’s firm response signals what may become a contentious legal dispute hinging on expert analysis, photographic evidence, inspection reports, and chain-of-custody questions regarding the delivered meal.
DoorDash Delivery Practices Questioned in Lawsuit
DoorDash and the unidentified delivery driver were also named as defendants in the filing. The lawsuit claims the delivery worker “improperly and negligently delivered the product in an unsafe and unsanitary manner,” implying that contamination could have occurred after the food left the Chipotle restaurant.
Legal experts note that such allegations complicate the case: responsibility may fall on the restaurant, the delivery platform, or potentially both, depending on where a jury believes contamination could have occurred—if at all.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether Bernhardt or her legal team have turned over the physical object for independent laboratory testing, a step that will likely play a central role as the case proceeds.
Complaint Seeks Compensatory and Punitive Damages
Bernhardt is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages, arguing that the incident resulted in significant physical harm, emotional trauma, and long-lasting distress.
The lawsuit also asserts that Chipotle “knew or should have known” that its product posed potential dangers to consumers, though the specific failures alleged have not been fully detailed in the public filing.
Neither the type of rodent Bernhardt claims to have encountered nor the exact nature of her injuries has been disclosed by her attorney, leaving key details to emerge through discovery.
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Investigation and Public Reaction
The allegation immediately stirred public reactions online, with many questioning how such an incident could occur in a major chain known for strict food-preparation procedures. Others echoed Chipotle’s assessment, pointing out that chicken tendons can resemble foreign objects when not trimmed.
Food-safety consultants say that without laboratory testing or official inspection reports, early claims can easily become distorted. Still, they acknowledge that claims involving foreign objects in food—especially allegations involving animals—tend to cause considerable reputational damage regardless of outcome.
Both Chipotle and DoorDash have stated they intend to cooperate with the investigation, though neither has offered further comment due to pending litigation.
Your Thoughts?
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