Texas Woman Sues Torchy’s Tacos Over Cow Tooth in Taco
A Texas resident, Nohemi Castillo, has filed a lawsuit against the taco chain Torchy’s Tacos after she allegedly discovered a cow’s tooth in her food.
Castillo ordered takeout from the South Congress Avenue location in Austin on June 9. She nearly swallowed the tooth, which was reportedly found in the “Democrat” taco. This particular taco typically includes beef barbacoa, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro, diced onions, a lime wedge, and tomatillo salsa served on a corn tortilla, but certainly not a cow’s tooth.
The lawsuit, which KVUE obtained, states that Castillo felt both “grossed out and sickened” by what she found. She even sought medical attention, where she received prescriptions.
The complaint asserts that the manager of the South Congress Torchy’s was informed about the incident, but it remains “unclear what if anything he did to remedy the problem within his food and under his control.”
Castillo is seeking $250,000 in damages, claiming negligence on Torchy’s part for offering a substandard product.
Castillo’s attorney, Scott Vasquez, expressed disappointment that the company did not handle the matter more proactively. “I thought they’d want to take care of this internally immediately, but apparently not,” he remarked, suggesting that Torchy’s took a defensive approach instead of assuming responsibility.
Vasquez also pointed out the potential choking hazard posed by the tooth, remarking on its size. “It’s large,” he stated. “It could choke someone, it really could.”
A witness corroborated Castillo’s experience, recalling that they heard her exclaim “awww!” just before she pulled something from her mouth, thinking it might be a bone.
According to reports, Vasquez mentioned that since the incident gained media attention, he has encountered others who claim to have had similar experiences with Torchy’s, although these have not been independently verified.
In a statement, Torchy’s confirmed that the object found in the taco was indeed a cow’s tooth. They acknowledged that while such occurrences are very rare, they can happen during the meat processing phase.
“We are aware of the situation and take all concerns about our food seriously,” the company declared. They emphasized their commitment to sourcing high-quality ingredients and maintaining strict food safety and preparation protocols. Following the complaint, they conducted a thorough review, identifying the item as a cow tooth and have since collaborated with their supplier to enhance their procedures to prevent future incidents.
