Canadian woman Lorrie Molino has sued fastfood giant Burger King of Canada for damages of a whopping C$7.7m (US$4.84m) after she swallowed two thumbtacks along with a mouthful of the company#;s trademark Whopper sandwich.

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Molino, who is suing for negligence and breach of an implied warranty, has filed a statement of claim in the Ontario Superior Court. She claims that on 25 March last year she “felt a pain in her throat as if a hard and sharp object was passing through” while eating a Whopper at a Burger King restaurant.


The first thumbtack was excreted after a few days, but the second was only recovered when a doctor used a surgical scope in what was described as a “painful” medical procedure.


The claim explains that aside from the obvious physical pain and discomfort the tacks caused, Molino has also suffered mental trauma. Having developed a general food phobia and libido loss, and experienced several flashbacks, the incident has left her unable to work and enjoy life.


Rob Doughty, VP of BK#;s corporate communications in Miami, Florida-based HQ, told the Lethbridge Herald that despite repeated requests, Molino and her lawyer have refused to show the company the thumbtacks or a receipt to prove that she was indeed in the restaurant.

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He added that food inspectors that examined the outlet “found nothing that would make us think that this may have happened in our restaurant.”

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