New York City, New York — A New York City woman has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s, alleging that a serving of “extremely hot” French fries caused serious burns to her mouth and tongue, leaving her with injuries that she claims could be permanent.
The civil complaint, filed in New York State Supreme Court on July 21, accuses the fast-food chain of negligence after the alleged incident at a McDonald’s restaurant located across from Bryant Park in Manhattan.
The allegations remain claims made in the lawsuit, and the case has not yet been decided by a court.
Customer Claims Fries Were Too Hot to Eat Safely
According to the complaint, Catherine Luongo visited the restaurant on March 5, where she was allegedly served fries that were “overheated and not safe for human consumption.”
The lawsuit claims McDonald’s employees failed to provide her with a safe food product and did not warn her that the fries were allegedly hot enough to cause burns.
Luongo contends that the incident resulted solely from the restaurant’s alleged negligence and that she was not responsible for the injuries she says she sustained.
The complaint describes the fries as being too hot for normal consumption, arguing that customers should not be served food capable of causing serious burns under ordinary use.
Lawsuit Alleges Lasting Physical and Emotional Injuries
The complaint states that Luongo suffered serious burns to her mouth and tongue, along with severe pain and emotional distress following the incident.
According to the filing, she also experienced shock to her nervous system, required medical treatment at her own expense, and was unable to carry out her normal daily activities while recovering.
The lawsuit further alleges that her injuries “may be permanent and lasting,” although it does not specify the exact nature or long-term extent of the claimed damage.
Luongo is seeking financial compensation, with the amount to be determined during court proceedings.
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McDonald’s Has Not Responded Publicly
As of now, McDonald’s has not publicly responded to the lawsuit or the allegations contained in the complaint.
Because the case is still pending, the claims have not been tested or proven in court, and the company has not filed a public legal response outlining its position.
The lawsuit argues that the restaurant failed to provide adequate warning regarding the temperature of the fries and that serving food at such a high temperature created an unreasonable safety risk.
Similar Burn Lawsuits Have Reached the Courts Before
Luongo’s lawsuit follows several high-profile cases involving burns allegedly caused by hot food and beverages.
Previous lawsuits have involved McDonald’s fries, Chicken McNuggets, coffee, Dunkin’ hash browns, and even hot tea served on an airline, with plaintiffs claiming the products were served at temperatures capable of causing serious injuries.
Perhaps the best-known example remains the Stella Liebeck McDonald’s hot coffee case, which became one of the most widely discussed product liability lawsuits in the United States. That case highlighted legal debates over when a food or beverage is considered unreasonably dangerous versus simply being served hot as customers might expect.
Legal experts generally note that while consumers understand hot food can cause discomfort, businesses may still have a duty to warn customers or ensure products are not served at temperatures that create an unreasonable risk of injury.
The outcome of Luongo’s lawsuit will ultimately depend on the evidence presented and the court’s determination regarding whether McDonald’s breached its legal duty of care.
Do you think restaurants should be required to provide clearer warnings when serving very hot food, or is the risk already obvious to customers? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
