More Than You Bargained For: Foreign Objects in Food Products

Would you rather find a dead rat in your bagged salad or a piece of sharp metal in your chicken breast? As a consumer, this isn’t even a question you should have to consider! When you buy a food product or order something in a restaurant, you expect that it will be fresh and safe. However, due to issues like negligence, unsanitary workplace conditions, and improper inspections, some customers end up getting more than they bargained for.

Foreign Objects in Food

When someone finds something that doesn’t belong in their food, it is called a foreign object. Some common examples include:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Glass
  • Rocks

In some of the vilest examples—like the rat in the salad—animals even find their way into the finished product. Thankfully, however, this is relatively rare, though gross stories do tend to make the news!

In many cases, a foreign object enters someone’s food through a simple error, like a restaurant employee failing to fully remove the plastic wrap from a piece of chicken. Other times, it can be the result of negligence. For example, if a meat processing plant uses old, unsafe equipment, a metal screw could fall out and into the product. Additionally, foreign objects can enter food when companies fail to properly inspect their foods, and when they do not follow health regulations.

Injuries from Foreign Objects in Food

When someone encounters a foreign object in their food, they could suffer from injuries like:

  • Cuts in the mouth or throat
  • Broken teeth
  • Allergic reaction
  • Lacerations
  • Internal injuries

Proving Liability

If someone is injured due to a foreign object, they might have some legal rights. But first, they must prove that the product actually caused their injury. This means that immediately after an incident with a foreign object, the injured person should gather evidence including:

  • The foreign object itself, if possible
  • Photo of the object and where it was found
  • The information of any witnesses
  • The food’s wrapper or container
  • Medical and dental records that show the nature of the injury

Additionally, the injured person must also prove that their injury was caused by negligence. For example, if a bit of glass ended up in a restaurant patron’s salad due to unsanitary conditions, the restaurant might be negligent.

An encounter with a foreign material in your food is never pleasant, but you do have rights!



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