Bayville, New Jersey — A New Jersey man has filed a lawsuit over what he describes as a shocking food delivery incident, alleging he discovered a Grubhub delivery driver’s dentures inside his Jersey Mike’s cheesesteak after taking delivery of the order.
The lawsuit, filed in Middlesex County, claims the incident left the customer emotionally distressed and raises broader questions about food handling and delivery practices.
The defendants named in the lawsuit include delivery driver Theresa Gildea, Grubhub, and Jersey Mike’s, each accused of contributing to the incident through separate acts of alleged negligence.
Customer Says He Found Dentures Inside His Sandwich
According to the complaint, Bayville resident Fernando Rodriguez ordered a cheesesteak from a Jersey Mike’s location in Lacey Township in April 2025 through Grubhub.
The lawsuit states the sandwich appeared to be properly packaged when it arrived. However, after opening the meal, Rodriguez allegedly discovered a set of dentures embedded inside the cheesesteak.
The complaint claims the dentures belonged to the delivery driver and had somehow ended up inside the customer’s food before delivery.
According to the filing, the discovery caused Rodriguez to suffer shock, disgust, nausea, emotional distress, physical revulsion, and a loss of appetite.
His attorney argued that finding another person’s dentures inside prepared food presents obvious food safety concerns.
“Finding a foreign object that came from another person’s mouth, in direct contact with a sandwich, is not only shocking and offensive, but raises serious concerns about contamination and food safety,” attorney Ian Goldman said.
Police Report Details Driver’s Alleged Explanation
According to a police report referenced in the lawsuit, Rodriguez returned to the restaurant with both the sandwich and the dentures seeking answers.
The restaurant manager reportedly told responding officers that the delivery bag appeared to have been tampered with.
The police report alleges that when officers contacted delivery driver Theresa Gildea, she initially claimed the dentures belonged to her father, who she said had been eating at the restaurant.
Investigators reportedly questioned that explanation before continuing their investigation.
According to the report, Gildea later allegedly acknowledged that she had been eating her own lunch while checking Rodriguez’s order because of previous complaints involving incorrect deliveries.
The report further alleges she told police that her dentures were accidentally placed into the customer’s sandwich during that process.
Authorities reportedly informed her that the dentures had been recovered and were available for pickup.
Lawsuit Targets Driver, Grubhub, and Jersey Mike’s
Rodriguez’s lawsuit accuses Gildea of tampering with the food, while also alleging that Grubhub failed to properly hire, train, and supervise its delivery personnel.
The complaint further claims Jersey Mike’s failed to adequately package and secure the order, allowing the alleged contamination to occur.
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The civil case seeks damages related to the emotional distress and other losses Rodriguez claims resulted from the incident. The allegations contained in the lawsuit have not yet been tested in court.
Grubhub Responds to the Allegations
Following the filing, Grubhub released a statement addressing the reported incident. A company spokesperson said the allegations do not reflect the standards the company expects from delivery partners.
“We were troubled by this report, as it doesn’t reflect the high standard of service our customers expect.”
The company also confirmed that the individual involved is no longer contracted to deliver through Grubhub. Jersey Mike’s has not publicly commented on the allegations outlined in the lawsuit.
The case remains pending in New Jersey, where the court will ultimately determine whether the claims can be supported by the evidence presented.
What are your thoughts on this unusual lawsuit? Should food delivery companies implement stricter safeguards to prevent incidents involving customer orders? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
