An Oregon woman has filed a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s after claiming she accidentally swallowed a severed human fingertip found inside a bottle of orange juice.
According to Law & Crime, Julee O’Neil submitted a legal complaint Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court seeking $10,000 in damages plus legal fees. The complaint alleges that in June 2025, O’Neil consumed the orange juice and unknowingly swallowed what she later discovered to be a severed fingertip. The filing further claims the fingertip had a piece of a rubber glove attached to it.
Complaint Details the Alleged Incident
“O’Neil was finishing the said orange juice when she felt like there was a large piece of pulp in her mouth,” the complaint states.
According to court documents, O’Neil reportedly gagged and began to feel nauseated. The filing also alleges she experienced a “burning sensation in her mouth.” She later sought medical care at an urgent care clinic.
The complaint does not specify how the alleged fingertip entered the product but asserts that the incident caused physical and emotional distress.
Settlement Request Allegedly Denied
The filing states that O’Neil sent written notice requesting a settlement from Trader Joe’s prior to filing the lawsuit.
According to the complaint, the company “failed, refused, or neglected” to pay the requested settlement.
As of now, Trader Joe’s has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
The case is pending in Multnomah County Circuit Court. If proven, the allegations would raise serious concerns about food safety protocols and product handling procedures.For now, the claim remains part of ongoing litigation.