Trader Joe’s customer claims she possibly swallowed a fingertip in lawsuit over juice

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - An Oregon woman has filed a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s, alleging she drank orange juice containing a piece of a glove and possibly a human fingertip.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Multnomah County Court says Julee O’Neil bought a 52-ounce bottle of organic orange juice with pulp from a Trader Joe’s in Portland around June 14, 2025.

About five days later, O’Neil was finishing the orange juice when she reportedly felt like there was a large piece of pulp in her mouth. When she pulled the material out of her mouth, she found it was the fingertip end of a rubber glove, according to the lawsuit. She thought it may have contained the end of a finger that she inadvertently swallowed.

The lawsuit goes on to say O’Neil went to an urgent care clinic due to a burning sensation in her mouth as well as gagging and nausea.

More than 30 days before filing the complaint, O’Neil sent a written notice requesting a $10,000 settlement from Trader Joe’s, which the grocer did not pay, according to the lawsuit.

She is now suing Trader Joe’s for $10,000 in damages plus legal fees over the allegedly contaminated orange juice.

KPTV has reached out to Trader Joe’s for comment on the lawsuit.