Texas Woman Sues Taco Chain After Allegedly Finding Cow Tooth in Meal
The lawsuit seeks $250,000 after a customer claimed to have nearly swallowed a cow tooth from a barbacoa taco purchased at a Torchy's Tacos location in Austin.
A Texas woman is suing Torchy's Tacos for $250,000, alleging she discovered a cow tooth in her barbacoa taco. The restaurant chain has confirmed that the object was indeed a cow tooth.
Nohemi Castillo claims she was eating takeout from the chain's South Congress Avenue location in Austin on June 9 when she discovered the tooth. She stated in the lawsuit, filed Oct. 13 in Travis County District Court, that she nearly swallowed the object.
Torchy's Tacos confirmed the incident in a statement to KVUE, a local Austin news station. The company stated that its investigation determined the item was a cow tooth and attributed the discovery to the meat processing stage. "This can occasionally happen when processing the meat, though it is quite rare," a company spokesperson said.
Torchy's further explained that its barbacoa is made from natural beef cheek sourced from a supplier. The company has stated that it has taken steps to prevent similar incidents by reinforcing internal procedures with its supplier.
Castillo's attorney, Scott Vasquez, told Fox News Digital that the company did not acknowledge the object was a cow tooth to him until the story garnered local media attention in October, approximately four months after the alleged incident.
Vasquez provided additional photographic evidence, including images showing the tooth next to a tape measure and a serving of taco meat. A witness statement included in the court filing describes the moment Castillo reportedly discovered the object. "As we were eating, I heard an ‘awww!’ When I turned to Nohemi, I saw her pulling something out of her mouth, she said, 'I think it's a bone,'" the witness stated.
The lawsuit alleges that Castillo became disgusted and ill, seeking medical attention later that evening. She claims to have incurred medical expenses and suffered physical pain and mental anguish. The complaint names Torchy's Tacos and its operating entity, Success Foods Management Group, as defendants. It asserts claims of failure to properly prepare, inspect, and distribute food, inadequate monitoring of meat suppliers, breach of implied warranties, and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and federal food safety requirements.
Castillo contends that she would not have purchased the meal or would have exercised more caution had she been aware of the alleged defect. She is seeking monetary damages of $250,000 or less, with the final award to be decided by a jury.
According to Vasquez, other individuals have reportedly come forward with similar experiences with Torchy's Tacos since the story gained attention, though these accounts have not been independently verified. Vasquez characterized the company's initial responses as offering limited information while deflecting responsibility.