US Woman Finds 'Human Finger' In Salad, Sues Restaurant

A woman from Connecticut, USA, has filed a lawsuit against a restaurant that served her a horrifying dish when she asked for a salad at a restaurant. Allison Cozzi alleged that she found a severed part of a human finger in her salad, at a restaurant called Chopt in Mount Kisko, New York State, back in April. Cozzi has filed a lawsuit against the restaurant owner and manager for their negligence. 

Chopt is a popular chain of salads and Mexican cuisine restaurants across the USA. But this is not the first time that Chopt has faced a lawsuit. The restaurant chain is notorious for foreign objects, including dead rats, inside their salads, according to reports.

Woman Finds Finger In Chopt Salad

In the lawsuit filed on November 27, Allison Cozzi revealed that she chewed on a tough meat in the salad, but was unable to understand what the meat was. Upon a closer look, Cozzi was shocked to discover that it was a severed part of a finger. According to reports, the chef,  who is also the store's manager, cut his left index finger while preparing the salad and the restaurant went ahead and served it to the lady.

An inspection report from the West County Health Department shows that several weeks after the incident, a health inspector visited the Chopt location and spoke to the store manager. The manager allegedly said staff "did not realise the arugula was contaminated with human blood and a fingertip," inspector Allison Hopper wrote.

Hopper instructed Chopt staff on the proper disposal of contaminated food. Despite legal requirements, the establishment did not report the incident to the county health department, which only learned of it after a complaint from Cozzi, reports stated.

The store manager was sent to the hospital, Cozzi said, but amid the chaos, they forgot to take the bloody fingertip out from the salad. Cozzi alleged in her lawsuit that the experience caused her “serious personal injuries” such as shock, panic attacks, migraines, traumatic stress, cognitive impairment, vomiting, and neck and shoulder pain.

Although Westchester County Health Department records show that Chopt was fined $900 for the incident, Allison Cozzi is seeking unspecified damages for all that she has suffered. Chopt has so far not released any statement on the matter.