Texas Woman Sues Torchy's Tacos for $250K Over Alleged Cow Tooth in Meal
Nohemi Castillo claims she nearly swallowed a cow tooth found in takeout from Torchy's Tacos in Austin. The chain confirmed the object was a cow tooth and says it has reinforced supplier procedures. Castillo is seeking up to $250,000 in damages.
A Texas woman is suing Torchy's Tacos for up to $250,000 after she allegedly found a cow tooth in a takeout meal from the chain's South Congress Avenue location in Austin. The restaurant has confirmed that the object was indeed a cow tooth, calling the discovery rare but possible during meat processing.
Nohemi Castillo filed the lawsuit on Oct. 13 in Travis County District Court, according to court documents. The complaint states that Castillo was eating lunch with a colleague on June 9 when she pulled the object from her mouth. The order included the chain's «Democrat» tacos, though a cow tooth was not among the advertised ingredients.
Torchy's Tacos addressed the incident in a statement to Austin television station KVUE, saying its investigation identified the item as a cow tooth. «Upon receiving the guest complaint, we conducted a thorough review and identified the item as a cow tooth,» the company said. «This can occasionally happen when processing the meat, though it is quite rare.» The restaurant explained that its barbacoa comes from natural beef cheek sourced from a supplier and that it has taken steps to prevent similar incidents. «We have partnered with our supplier to reinforce their internal procedures to prevent this from happening in the future,» Torchy's said.
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 attracted local media attention in October, roughly four months after the incident. Vasquez provided photographs showing the tooth next to a tape measure, offering a closer look at the sizable object Castillo claims she nearly swallowed. Another photograph included in the court filing shows the object resting on aluminum foil beside what appears to be taco meat.
A witness statement provided by Castillo's attorney describes the moment the lunch took an unpleasant turn. «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 wrote. The colleague described Castillo examining the object while holding her left cheek before concluding that it appeared to be a tooth.
According to the lawsuit, Castillo was disgusted and sickened by the discovery and visited a doctor later that evening, where she received prescriptions. The complaint alleges that she incurred medical expenses and experienced physical pain, mental anguish and other damages.
Castillo is suing Torchy's Tacos and Success Foods Management Group, which does business as Torchy's Tacos, alleging that the defendants failed to properly prepare, inspect and distribute the food before selling it to customers. The lawsuit further alleges that Torchy's failed to adequately monitor its meat supplier and breached implied warranties that food sold to consumers is fit for consumption. It also alleges 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 examined it more closely, had she known about the alleged defect. She is seeking monetary relief of $250,000 or less, with any final award to be determined by a jury.
Vasquez also told Fox News Digital that he has become aware of other individuals reporting similar experiences with Torchy's since the story received attention, although those accounts have not been independently verified. The attorney characterized the company's earlier responses as providing limited information while shifting blame and responsibility to others.
Torchy's, meanwhile, maintains that it took the complaint seriously and conducted a thorough review. «We are aware of the situation and take all concerns about our food seriously,» the company told KVUE. Torchy's did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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