Needles in McDonald's meal, woman claims
Files a lawsuit; says hospital removed 3 she swallowed
Friday, January 14, 2005
By Michaelangelo Conte
Journal staff writer
WEST NEW YORK - A North Bergen woman has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's, claiming she swallowed three inch-long needles while eating a Crispy Chicken Sandwich at a Bergenline Avenue restaurant.
Beatriz Bermeo spent three days at Palisades Medical Center, where the three needles were surgically removed from her digestive tract after she ingested them on Dec. 29 at the McDonald's near 60th Street, said her attorney, Rosemarie Arnold of Fort Lee.
"Lawyers get a bad rap, but the truth of the matter is it's people like me that force these companies to be a little bit more responsible, especially regarding McDonald's," Arnold said yesterday. "The lawsuits are the only reason they even consider being accountable to their consumers and customers about being safe."
Arnold would not say what sum she thinks would be fair compensation.
On the Dec. 29, Bermeo, her husband, Beethoven, their 2-year-old son Fernando, and her sister stopped at the McDonald's to let the child play in the indoor playground, Arnold said. When they found the playground closed, they sat down for a meal and Bermeo ordered the chicken sandwich, Arnold said.
Halfway through the sandwich, she felt pain in her mouth and esophagus, and, unable to speak, she began clutching her throat because she thought she was choking, Arnold said.
Her husband performed the Heimlich maneuver, but seeing she was still in distress, opened her mouth, saw two needles and pulled them out, Arnold said.
By then, someone had dialed 911 and police arriving at the restaurant rushed Bermeo to Palisades Medical Center, where surgeons removed three more pins from her digestive tract, Arnold said.
She left the hospital three days later, Arnold said, adding that the needles were similar to sewing needles, although they had no eyes for thread.
"They removed the three needles and she still has pain in her chest and stomach, so they think she still may have needles in her," Arnold said adding, "we have no idea how the needles got there, and McDonald's hasn't said anything."
Arnold said that since the incident Bermeo has said she cannot sleep or eat, has pain and "certainly she has emotional damage."
In response to questions about the incident, McDonald's e-mailed a statement from the owner of the franchise, George Gutierrez, who said an aggressive investigation into the incident was launched immediately.
"My restaurant manager and crew employees are highly trained and qualified in safety and sanitation procedures," Gutierrez said in the statement.
"We have no reason to believe that this object came from our restaurant and the object in question is not something that is used in our restaurant. I strongly caution anyone from jumping to conclusions or making assumptions before knowing all the facts."
Gutierrez said the safe operation of his restaurant and the safety of his customers is his highest priority.
Arnold said her firm is the state's most successful in food adulteration suits. She's won suits on things from a pencil found in a donut, to a worm found in a jar of spaghetti sauce, she said.
"Oh God, there are so many," she said.
West New York police are also conducting an investigation into the incident and are "looking into all aspects" of what happened at the McDonald's, said Police Capt. Robert Antolos yesterday.