Shocking claims have burst onto the New York foodie scene—a Manhattan woman says dinner turned into a nightmare after she allegedly chomped down on a rodent hiding in her Chipotle burrito bowl, and now she’s dragging Chipotle, DoorDash, and her food delivery driver into court.
Gia Bernhardt, 24, is suing the mega-chain, the food delivery app, and the so-called ‘dasher’ who dropped off her order, insisting the traumatic incident on January 11 left her permanently scarred both mentally and physically. According to a civil suit filed in New York County Supreme Court, Gia placed an order for a burrito bowl, plus chips and guac, through DoorDash from a Chipotle outpost on the Upper East Side. Nothing seemed amiss—until she took a bite.
It was then, the lawsuit claims, that Bernhardt’s meal took a horrifying turn: she bit directly into a rodent, which ended up in her mouth, triggering what she describes as “severe bodily injuries.” The complaint, reviewed by The Independent, details how the shocking find led to overwhelming pain, emotional distress, and, as Gia puts it, lasting trauma.
A rodent sought dry ground in Boston, Ky. after flood waters rose overnight. Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
While the exact nature of her injuries—and the type of rodent—are still unclear, Bernhardt and her attorneys argue that Chipotle created a dangerous dining scenario and failed to alert customers to the possible risk of contamination or harm. The filing paints Chipotle as negligent, stating the company should have been well aware of the possible hazards lurking in their products, yet did nothing to safeguard or warn patrons.
Chipotle, meanwhile, is not backing down. In a rebuttal sent to The Independent, Laurie Schalow, Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, dismissed the accusations, declaring that the company will ‘vigorously defend against these claims,’ and underscoring its ‘industry-leading’ health protocols. ‘The safety of our employees and guests is always our first concern,’ Schalow insisted.
The lawsuit also puts DoorDash and a yet-to-be-identified delivery person—referred to as ‘John Doe’—in the firing line. Bernhardt alleges her food was delivered in an unsanitary fashion, blaming both the app and the driver for negligence. While DoorDash remains silent, declining to comment thus far, their connection to the alleged rodent-riddled delivery lands them as co-defendants.
