By GeoffDawg

June 23, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

When I was about 10, I once found a band-aid in a burrito at this hole in the wall Mexican place. I was horrified. To this day, I can’t eat band-aids.

By susan

June 23, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

I have worked in the food and beverage industry in Atlanta for over ten years. We had a problem with Cod specifically from a certain large seafood purveyor in the city. Luckily our fish cutters were really on it and caught the problem before the fish ever hit the plate and sent it back. After the second time it happened we starting sourcing from a different distributor.

By Harold

June 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

I called in an order to go at a local Chilli’s. When I got home with the order, I placed the two grilled chicken salads in the fridge to eat later. I went to pick the plastic bag in the trash and saw it still had contents. I assumed it was plastic tableware. WRONG…it was two sanitary napkins. Thankful unused and still in the wrapper. I drove back to the restaurant and confronted the manager who seems confounded. He offer nothing more than I a simple and quick apology. I called Chilli’s main office the following day. Then seemed unconcerned and indifferent. I no longer eat at Chilli’s.

By GeoffDawg

June 23, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

Sanitary napkins? Did you order the pasta with red sauce?

By DaveD

June 23, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

if you’ll eat a fish, or a clam, or even a beef liver, why would you not digest a worm or think that it is disgusting? Personally for me, there is no difference between anything that was once swiming, flying, walking or crawling around.

Who decided it’s OK to eat a chicken or pig and not your dog? There is no difference. None at all.

By GeoffDawg

June 23, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

After “The Shaggy Dog”, that might save us from future Tim Allen movies.

By DB

June 23, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

I was eating at a popular franchise and ordered pasta. t came with provolone shredded in little strips over the dish. I was sorta pushing the cheese around, and finally speared a piece and started chewing — and chewing — and chewing. It finally dawned on me that it wasn’t cheese. It turned out to be a similar-sized sliver of styrofoam, like the kind you find meat packaged in. It was well-disguised with sauce and really, it looked just like the rest of the pasta — you could see how it easily happened. I told the waitress so that she could tell the kitchen staff, but the manager came over a few minutes later, and insisted on providing free dessert for the entire table, which was nice.

By bobbalouie

June 23, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Once, a LONG time ago, maybe 20 years, I bought frozen flounder at Kroger in Mableton. I put it in the freezer immediately. When I went to prepare it a few days later and opened the package, there were numerous pink worms embedded in the fish. Ouch. I took it back to the store and the manager acted offended. I quit shopping there. But as I said, it was a very long time ago. I also have never bought frozen fish again.

By DSTENZ

June 23, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

My husband was on the second to last bite of his delicious hamburger at the EARL and bit into a large piece glass. The bartender comped our entire meal but he still refuses to eat there ever again.

By Sandy

June 23, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

How could a worm survive the cooking process? I have always been a little leery of sushi because I have a bit of phobia about eating a worm, but geez, this cod was “perfectly cooked”.

By GeoffDawg

June 23, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Perfectly cooked? That’s a half-baked theory.

By kevin

June 23, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

once at chilli’s i got a chicken sammich that was under cooked,fortunatly the bartender spotted it and whisked it away before i could finish it.they comped the sammich and offered soup while i waited for another.

By DF

June 23, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

I was having the last bite of my black bean taco at a Mexican restaurant when I heard a crunch and felt a pain in my tooth. I spit out a tiny screw, which we later found out fell off of the tomato dicer. The manager handled the situation perfectly. Took care of my dental bill, gave us lots of gift certificates which I let my teenagers and their friends use. We would eat there again.

By Joe

June 23, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

While certainly infrequent, I have heard of this happening before with fish, especially cod which I believe are prone to certain types of parasites. I’m surprised that it survived the cooking process, but it does happen occasionally.

As with Ms. Ford, I have also had the occasional hair or other foreign object - unfortunately, if you eat out enough this is bound to happen sooner or later. As long as the management is willing to step up to the plate I will usually return. On the other hand, if it happens again at the same establishment I would probably not come back.

By zorro

June 23, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Worms have protein…

By student

June 23, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

On a students budget it is cheap and fast to pick up chicken nuggets and many of the fast food places.
However, as I sat in my car between classes to have my tasty snack I was surprised to find a good sized bone in one of the nuggets.

It didn’t cause any harm so I just let the issue go.

By Joe

June 23, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

If you would like to read more about cod worms here is a link to a pretty good article.

By Stand Tall

June 23, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Place : One of those self serve cafeteria style eateries.

Problem : Ordered the veal, didn’t ask for a worm to be lying in wait for me..

Solution : complained like heck, got the meal comped, and have never gone back EVER, anyone who chooses this place to eat better be ready for anything!

By Ford Fan

June 23, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

Gordon Biersch once brought me a plate garnished with a large palmetto bug, feet in the air.

but, you know, this is the South. what are you gonna do, carpet bomb the city with pesticide? (and, like there’s never been a bug in my kitchen??)

they took it away and offered anything up on the house. I had lost my appetite but they brought several desserts for the table to share. they handled it perfectly in my opinion and I would go back.

By JJ

June 23, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

When I was newly pregnant and still suffering morning sickness, a friend had come over and was cooking dinner for me and my step daughter. I was outside and my step daughter came running out of the house screaming, “You have to see this, you have to see this”. My friend had opened a package of chicken breasts, and a huge worm was coming right out of the center of one of the breasts, as we were standing there. I darn near lost it right there in the kitchen.

It took me a VERY long time to ever eat meat again. I survived my pregnancy on salads…….

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

June 23, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

A great thai/sushi place in VA High…. we found a huge metal bracket/staple found in boxes? We told the female manager who quickly removed the plate, and gave my friend a %20 discount on her food. I was shocked that they didn’t comp her meal…needless to say she will NEVER be back. Shame too….

By snorfledork

June 23, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

1) A large cockroach crawled up my leg at Felini’s on Peachtree.

2)A rice dish at Vickery’s was FULL of hair once and I’m not talking a few strands.

3) Bit into a piece of ceramic plate at the old Folk’s on Peachtree.

By Duluth

June 23, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

I am so totally grossed out by these comments, that I may never set foot in a restaurant again!!!!!

By Perkle

June 23, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Years ago my husband and I ate at a restaurant in Fayetteville called Sweet Peas. They didn’t last too long. The meal was fine. We ordered one piece of chocolate silk pie for us to share for dessert. We both took a bite at the same time and spit it out. Tasted like some kind of chemical was in it. We called the manager over and he tasted it. He said it tasted fine to him….I don’t think we ever went back there either.

By andthensome

June 23, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

Saw a mouse running around a Mexican restaurant. Some workers chased it down and killed it. Only because I was screaming like the a little girl. Well, I’m a big girl, but it was disturbing. Fortunately for them, it was mid-afternoon, and nobody else was in the restaurant at the time.

By Melvin

June 23, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

I overheard the woman making my chicken sandwich at the fast food chain. “It’s feels like I’ve been coming down with something for the last two days,I have chills and fever. It must be the flu.I just feel icky.” She then proceeded to wrap the order up (with out gloves on mind you) bag it and approach me. I looked at her in shock, turned and walked out the door with out requesting a refund. I just wanted to be away from her.

By Klever

June 23, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

After these comments, it will be awhile before I go out to eat again…

By nomorewildsalmon

June 23, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

A few months ago I purchased a filet of wild salmon from Publix. The fish was in a regular foam package with the clear wrap. As the fish sat in the refrigerator for two days I noticed what looked like a small piece of curled “thread” on top of the fish. At each passing day, I noticed the thread seemed to get longer. Needless, to say I shook the package until the “thread” fell off the fish onto another part of the package. Well, that “thread” started wiggling…it was a worm. Took it back to Publix and I was reimbursed my money. The store manager didn’t seem to shocked. Probably explains why it was on sale.

By bugged out

June 23, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

At least 20 years ago on New Year’s Eve, my parents ordered Chinese take-out from a place on Jimmy Carter and Singleton. It was the nicest Chinese place in the area way back then… Mu-Shu Pork was one of our entrees, and my dad made me a nice wrap and gave it to me to have for dinner. Being that I was maybe 10 or 11, I made a mess of it and unfolded it to eat with a fork… Right where I would have taken my next bite was a HUGE cockroach!! Thank god for my messiness, my parents promptly threw EVERYTHING away and we had no more dinner on that night.
We all know how Jimmy Carter Blvd turned out…

By jim

June 23, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this

The absolute worst thing I ever had happen was at Wendy’s ordered several sandwiches, got my order, looked at the number of packages, (looked right) and left.

Got back to the office, started handing them out when I noticed that the third one was light-very light. Opened it, and saw that it was a chicken sandwich, or what was left of it, it was 2/3rds eaten!

Immediately went back, walked in, showed the sandwich, and one of the line cooks said, “oh, that’s where that went,” walked over, picked it up, and took a bite.

Asked the manager what he was going to do to make it right, he offered me a free (small) frosty.

I left, called corporate that night and the health department the next day, and haven’t been back.

I can also remember my mom dropping a can of green beans as she dumped it into the pan and a large (dead) green grasshopper came sliding out with the beans.

If we are what we eat, it’s no wonder we’re so screwed up…

By Alecia

June 23, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

1) IHOP on L’ville-Suwanee Rd served a cup of coffee with floaties on top. The manager did not seem surprised. He did comp my meal. Decided to give them another try a few weeks later, again received another cup w/ floaties on top. Needless to say, they did not get a 3rd chance.

2) KFC-Loganville on 78 the cashier who was also filling food orders with out gloves had a bad cold and was coughing all over the food. Left immediately.

3) A Mexican Chicken restaurant on Jimmy Carter-After eating half of my salad I discovered a cockroach.

By Meridith Ford

June 23, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this

EEEEEEWWWW. These are some gruesome tales. But thanks, Joe, for the link — and Jim — we are definitely as screwed up as what we eat. I think I could handle a worm — even a live one — over a Bandaid.

By Food PhD

June 24, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

All large fish such as amberjack, mahi-mahi, tuna, etc., (which are frequently cut as “steaks”) have parasitic worms in them. It is a fact of life in the sea. They don’t harm humans and usually disappear into the flesh as the fish is cooked. If you’ve been consuming these type of fish, you’ve been eating them all your life. In the past, they were hardly noticed but the new practice of undercooking fish will allow them to show their faces more often. Sushi-grade fish are so much more expensive because they are intensively inspected and don’t use the ones with any worms.

By Lucia

June 24, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

I bit into a chewy piece of cardboard in my entree at Olive Garden in Douglasville. The waiter and manager were extremely nice about it, apologized profusely, comped it and brought me a new (100% edible) entree in a to-go box.

By Drew

June 27, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

You all should know that “sushi grade” fish is frozen to kill any worms/parasites and then thawed to serve. Worms aren’t an uncommon thing especially in wild caught fish.