Jamiesfeast – A man from Rockland County is filing a lawsuit against a New York City McDonald’s, alleging that he had a near-death experience after consuming a Big Mac that had a slice of cheese, despite his severe milk allergy.
Charles Olsen experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction shortly after consuming a McDonald’s burger in February 2021, as stated in a lawsuit filed on Friday in the state Supreme Court.
According to a screenshot of the order attached to the lawsuit, Olsen, who is 28 years old, ordered the Big Mac through the food delivery app DoorDash. However, she specifically requested that there be “NO American cheese” between the buns and patties.
According to the lawsuit, after taking a few bites of the burger from the McDonald’s on 335 Eighth Avenue, he immediately sensed that something was off.
The lawsuit alleges that he started experiencing an itchy and swollen throat. He felt a burning sensation all over his body. He turned to his girlfriend, Alexandra, and coughed, saying, “There’s milk in this!”
With hives covering his body and struggling to breathe, Olsen’s girlfriend quickly rushed him to the hospital. He was admitted for anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
According to the lawsuit, he was in such critical condition that he required intubation to ensure his survival.
It took several hours, but eventually, doctors were able to stabilize him.
In a statement, Olsen expressed his desire to hold food establishments accountable for the ingredients they include in their meals. According to the lawsuit, there was purportedly no allergy warning or cross-contamination advisory provided when he placed his order.
“I’ve spent my entire life navigating menus and dealing with staff who lack knowledge about handling food allergies,” he expressed through his legal representatives.
Catering to allergies should be a straightforward task for any establishment. There is no excuse for not clearly listing allergy information, omitting options to indicate allergies when placing an order, or inadequately training staff to handle this basic issue.
“We have made some progress, which is a relief, but it still falls short. It is unacceptable for anyone to feel anxious about their well-being while simply trying to enjoy a meal.”
According to Lange, the incident was incredibly distressing for him. He emphasized the gravity of the situation by stating, “Imagine sitting down to enjoy a meal, only to have your throat suddenly close up.”
McDonald’s has chosen not to provide a comment on the matter at hand. Instead, they have shared a statement from the owner of the McDonald’s franchise, emphasizing their commitment to customer safety. The statement asserts that the company takes every complaint seriously and is currently conducting a thorough review of the claims.
The recently filed lawsuit does not specify the amount of damages, but it does demand that McDonald’s adhere to proper food and allergy policies.