Mealbreakers: Cancer Survivor Finds Human Blood On Cracker Barrel BLT & Fries

Mealbreaker (n.): a nasty, non-edible surprise found in food while it is being eaten; often lawsuit-provoking, sometimes fabricated, always disgusting.

Susan Mosher, of Kingwood, TX, was halfway through the BLT she'd ordered for dinner with her husband at a local Cracker Barrel when she noticed something red on her fries. It wasn't ketchup. She called the waitress over to complain. The waitress went into the kitchen to investigate. The waitress had bad news for Mosher: the red splotches were human blood.

Apparently, the chef in charge of preparing Mosher's meal had cut himself. Cracker Barrel procedure calls for cooks to remove themselves from the food prep area in the case of a cut. Maybe it was a busy night, maybe the chef hadn't noticed he'd cut himself until too late—but he did not follow procedure.

Mosher was understandably upset. She talked to the manager, who tried to reassure her and offered to comp the meal. This was not enough; Mosher and her husband left the restaurant in anger. They complained to Cracker Barrel corporate. Mosher explained that she is a 20-year cancer survivor, and is now worried that she could contract a blood-born illness. She asked Cracker Barrel to test the offending chef for communicable diseases, but company representatives told her they could not legally compel him to undergo such testing. They sent her two $50 gift cards to try and assuage her. This only added insult to injury.

Mosher has talked with a lawyer about potential future action.

There is one silver lining: though the blood was undoubtedly revolting, doctors say that Mosher's chances of contracting a blood-borne disease by eating blood—even if it is infected—are extremely low.

It's not like this have never happened before. People find gross things in their food all the time. Sometimes it's dangerous, sometimes it's just gross—but it's always a mealbreaker. Here are 14 mealbreakers from the past few years:

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comments(117)

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Comments

[chrissyxox123]

10:14 PM on 07/03/2011

also what would $100 in giftcards do if i was her i wouldnt want to go back and eat there

[chrissyxox123]

10:12 PM on 07/03/2011

if i was her i would make them take the tests and see the results and if i got sick from eating the blood i would make them pay for all the treatments i needed!!!!

[AmericanHoney]

09:49 AM on 07/02/2011

a long time ago I bought a boxed toy at K-mart to give to my nephew for his birthday...imagine both our surprise after he unwrapped and looked in the box only to find it empty! hahaha...K-mart gladly took the empty box back and exchanged for one WITH the toy inside...another time i was eating at an Italian restaurant and my then husband found a small roach in his red sauce. Things happen, critters find their way into food, I have cut myself and not realized I had! so the excuse of mental and emotional anguish is so lame. Ask our soldiers, or people who have been abused or witnessed a murder what mental and emotional anguish is!

[stabornc]

08:13 AM on 07/02/2011

What did she WANT Cracker Barrel to do? Did she tell them? I worked at Cracker Barrel for 5 years in managment. The best company ever. High standards, ethics and top notch training. Accidents happen. People are human. How much blood was in the food before she found it after eating half the plate. Obviously not much. She could have very politely returned the food - obviously she didn't eat the blood - and either have taken their compensation or made a suggestion of what would make her happy.

Anitafeeney - there is NO WAY your father could get a syringe stuck in the roof of his mouth without him knowing - its too big. Make up something more beliveable.

Jessiecruzj - obviously you've never worked in food service. New cook, short on managers, manager trying to keep wait staff and kitchen running. During the 45 minutes did you ask your waitress to check on the food? Did you check with the manager? One mistake by one employee should not color your perception of the entire operation. How many customers have you lost due to a mistake made by one person in your company?

People - you need to chill out and accept that life is NOT perfect.

[ugot 2bkidding]

08:40 AM on 07/02/2011

I'm with you 100 %. I'm so tired of people suing over BS.

[AmericanHoney]

09:52 AM on 07/02/2011

I LOVE me some Cracker Barrel! The wait staff are always nice, the food is always good, and if there is a problem with my order there is no fuss. One persons bad experience doesn't cloud my judgement. I am sorry it happened, it was unfortunate but I just cannot give up the hash brown casserole!!!

[Rick Golub]

08:10 AM on 07/02/2011

Have never had a decent meal there, will not go back. Service and food sloppy. not southern style, backwoods style.

[jerrya2480]

07:03 AM on 07/02/2011

I've never had a hot meal at a cracker barrell. when the kkids come to town I nerer take them there.
I don't think they hire eneough wait staff.

[stabornc]

09:41 PM on 07/02/2011

One never hire enough staff. Sometimes things happen: waitresses get sick, managers get fired - a lot of things can cause short staffing. If your food isn't hot, then complain. I've never had a bad meal at Cracker Barrel

[anitafeeney]

05:58 AM on 07/02/2011

i remember once my dad was eating some ribs bought at a local supermarket chain he actually found a syringe stuck in one of the ribs it got stuck in his mouth to the roof of his mouth to this day i will not eat meat bought from that supermarket chain

[anitafeeney]

05:55 AM on 07/02/2011

well i know where i will NEVER eat how nasty

[street prophet]

05:36 AM on 07/02/2011

Thats why i eat at home people are sick and don't care about your food

[Robert Galyean]

04:04 AM on 07/03/2011

good. you should stay at home more often.

[jessiecruzj]

05:28 AM on 07/02/2011

I've eaten at Cracker Barrel one time on business meeting and our Chicken Fried Steak was burned almost to a Charcoal "after waiting 45mins! , thier comment was sorry but we just got a new cook, My Associate & I just got up and didn't pay for nothing and walked out, never again have I walked in Cracker Barrel Rest... Believe you haven't missed anything

[CEZAR]

04:40 AM on 07/02/2011

IT WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, PROBABLY, THEY SHOULD GIVE HER

[Rachel G Freeman]

02:04 AM on 07/02/2011

I proudly work for a well-known Italian restaurant chain. One day I had a minor nose bleed, but I got a few drops of blood on my shirt. I was not allowed in the kitchen, or in front of my quest. I was sent home to get another shirt before I was allowed back into the kitchen. that's the kind of place to work & eat at.

[Jaguar8450]

06:13 AM on 07/02/2011

Well, can you really compare the stains on a shirt to 1/2 pound or more of plated french fries.

[tonysfile]

12:33 AM on 07/02/2011

Not having the authourity to force a blood test on the cook reminds me of something that happened to me. Just after a routine blood test I was contacted by the VA Clinic as I just entered the elevator to leave the building. I was told the nurse that just took my blood had accidentially stabbed herself with the needle she had used. They requested very nicely that I have a blood test. I was surprised at how nice they were, saying it was my choice. I really did not want the nurse to worry so I told them I would submit to an Aids test. All were relieved at the result.

[AmericanHoney]

09:42 AM on 07/02/2011

to me agreeing to a blood test is honorable. If you have nothing to hide...why not give the other person peace of mind??

[photofm1979]

11:45 PM on 07/01/2011

can you say sue

[Barancy Peloma]

11:43 PM on 07/01/2011

damn, that sort of reminds me of the moment from that movie the hitcher with c. thomas howell and rutger hauer where mr. howell's character is eating at some diner and notices when after eating some fires, he sees he is about to chow down on someone's cut off finger and rushes out and barfs his guts out.
i would definitely cross that place off my list after that!