A woman is suing Wendy's after a value menu item allegedly caused her to incur nearly $100,000 in debt.
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Roxie Ellis Douglas, 68, alleges a Wendy's meal delivered to her home last year was contaminated with Campylobacter, a type of bacteria that can cause serious gastrointestinal illness.
Douglas, who was hospitalized twice after eating the Wendy's burger, racked up $93,000 in medical bills. She is now seeking more than $50,000 in damages from the fast-food chain, according to USA Today.
The 68-year-old patron initially filed a lawsuit on July 30 in Cook County. Per Wendy's request, the case was moved to federal court on Aug. 20, and the restaurant demanded a jury trial.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Wendy's CEO Bob Wright confessed in August that the fast-food chain's ingredient quality dropped in exchange for increased revenue.
"We have made some decisions around quality that were rooted in efficiency and cost savings," he told the WSJ. "We have let our value equation erode. While we have good systems and good execution, there's an opportunity to really bring that back."
Woman Hospitalized After Eating Wendy's Burger
Douglas may have fallen victim to the dip in ingredient quality. According to the complaint, Douglas ordered a double cheeseburger and baked potato online from a Wendy's on South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago on Aug. 5, 2025.
Since the order arrived sealed, Douglas alleges the meal was contaminated before leaving the restaurant.
Douglas allegedly suffered a Campylobacter infection that led to severe diarrhea, dehydration and inflammation of the colon. Additionally, she experienced a spike in her white blood cell count and lower potassium levels.
Douglas is not the only fast-food diner to suffer serious medical issues after a drive-thru trip.
Yvette Hinds claims that she fell ill after eating a Sausage McMuffin from a McDonald's in New York City.
In her lawsuit against McDonald's on May 26 in Manhattan Supreme Court, Hinds alleges that the sandwich contained "injurious substances, contaminants, poisons, toxins, parasites, bacteria, germs and/or organisms."
After consuming the value menu item, Hinds claims that she became "violently ill and nauseated" and suffered "severe pains and distress throughout her body."
