Two customers in Texas are suing Popeyes and its parent company, Restaurant Brands International, for more than $1.5 million, alleging they found a "condom-like" object embedded in their fried chicken. The lawsuit, filed in Harris County District Court on August 3, accuses the fast-food chain and a franchise operator of negligence and violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act.
Justin Howard and Danielle McKinnon claim the incident occurred on July 25 when they purchased chicken at a Popeyes location in Houston. According to the petition, Howard discovered the object when he took a bite, describing it as "condom-like." The discovery reportedly caused the customers to become nauseated, and they stopped eating.
The lawsuit states that the couple returned to the restaurant, where management allegedly offered to replace the food. The petition claims they only received a refund after persistent demands.
Howard and McKinnon assert that the restaurant's handling of the situation demonstrated a "conscious indifference" to customer safety, prioritizing damage control over addressing the issue. The plaintiffs also expressed fear of potential exposure to infectious contaminants, bacteria, viruses, bloodborne pathogens, bodily fluids, or sexually transmitted diseases.
Popeyes told USA Today that an internal review of video footage suggested the object was likely a restaurant glove that fell into the batter. A company spokesperson stated the incident was "not acceptable" and that the customers had been issued a refund and an apology. Popeyes added that the incident "does not reflect the excellent experience that we strive to deliver."