Dead Rat Found in Takeout Salad: A Disturbing Incident
In an unsettling turn of events, a woman in New York City has reported discovering a dead rat in her takeout salad from a local Korean restaurant. Hannah Rasbach, 27, was enjoying her meal from Ongi in Midtown Manhattan when she made the shocking find. The incident took place on May 5, and Rasbach’s claims have since attracted the attention of the city’s Health Department.
Describing her experience, Rasbach expressed her distress, stating, "I’m not physically sick, I’m upset. I’m traumatized." Surveillance footage confirmed that she was indeed at the restaurant on the date in question.
While indulging in a bowl filled with spring mix, grilled salmon, and beef bulgogi, Rasbach stumbled upon the unexpected addition halfway through her meal. "When I tried to cut it, it didn’t feel right; it felt like a fatty piece of meat. When I looked closer, I saw the tail and eyes," she recounted.
This shocking discovery left Rasbach horrified. She quickly went to the restaurant to report the bizarre incident after initially being taken aback. Upon returning to Ongi, she was reportedly met with indifference by the staff. "She asked if I thought it had come from the spring mix … Obviously, I’m not sure where it came from,” Rasbach commented, highlighting her shock at the manager’s response.
The restaurant has strongly denied Rasbach’s allegations, insisting that thorough video footage and their daily cleanliness standards prove the claims are unfounded. Owner Ray Park described his concern over the situation, stating, “I was thinking, ‘How can it be happening here? We have a high standard to run every single day here.’”
A representative for the restaurant asserted, “Upon review of that video and other evidence, we concluded that the contaminant was not put into the customer’s lunch at our restaurant.” They maintained that they take pride in their food quality and have never faced such contamination allegations before.
As the controversy unfolded, Rasbach shared an image of the rat, which she estimated to be around four to five inches long. Initially, she hadn’t noticed the animal because it was hidden at the bottom of her bowl, demonstrating a significant concern regarding food safety practices.
Rasbach’s credibility came into question when the restaurant hinted that it would be implausible for such a large object to evade the notice of their staff. "It is implausible to suggest that such a large foreign object would not have been noticed or felt by the meal preparers," their spokesperson noted.
Despite the denials from Ongi, Rasbach didn’t shy away from defending her position. Feeling that the restaurant’s insinuation was absurd, she said, "There’s no benefit to me putting a rodent in my bowl. Where would I have gotten the rodent?" She has even taken the step of filing a complaint with the city, urging authorities to investigate the establishment further.
In the wake of the incident, Rasbach sought medical attention as a precaution, being prescribed antibiotics to address any potential exposure to health risks from the rodent. Following this ordeal, she has expressed her reluctance to eat takeout in the future. "I’m going to bring my lunch from now on, because I just feel like I can’t trust what’s in anything,” she said, reflecting a common sentiment that many feel about food safety in today’s world.
As the investigation by the Health Department unfolds, this incident raises crucial questions about food safety standards in restaurants, particularly amid the ongoing scrutiny of dining establishments. Whether this was an unfortunate anomaly or indicative of a larger problem remains to be seen, but for many, the experience serves as a stark reminder of the vigilance required when it comes to food safety.
