A Houston man is suing Whataburger for more than $250,000 after allegedly suffering a severe allergic reaction when onions were included in his meal despite his specific request to exclude them.
A man from Houston is suing Whataburger in Texas federal court. He says the Texas-based fast food chain gave him onions even though he asked them not to, which caused a severe allergic reaction.
An April case filed in Harris County District Court says that Demery Ardell Wilson went to a Whataburger in July 2024. Wilson says that even though he asked for a lunch without onions, they were in it, which caused "serious personal injuries" that needed medical care.
Wilson wants more than $250,000 in financial help. The lawsuit says Whataburger was careless because it "knew or should have known" about the possible health risk. It also says the chain's marketing was problematic because it didn't provide enough information or warnings about allergens.
Whataburger hasn't said anything about the case in public. On its website, the company mentions common allergens in its food, like soy, wheat, gluten, and sesame, but not onions. Unless asked not to, a basic Whataburger usually comes with onions.
Because of this event, the fast food chain is getting into more legal trouble. Whataburger has been sued for patent infringement in the past few months because of its mobile app, and it also has a trademark disagreement with a North Carolina restaurant.
The lawsuit raises bigger issues about fast food allergy policies and customer safety, especially since food allergies are becoming more widespread.
