Ryan Hart, 14, was eating a junior roast beef sandwich on May 11 when he bit into a piece he described as particularly rubbery.  That’s not a good endorsement when someone says it’s particularly rubbery, suggesting that they’re accustomed to and willing to accept some level of rubberiness in your product.  That’s loyalty.

He spit out the offending item, which turned out to be a part of a finger measuring about one-inch long and a quarter-inch thick, MLive reports.  The whole disturbing incident occurred at Arby’s on North West Avenue in Jackson, Michigan.  Ryan, his mother, and some friends had gone in for a quick bite after school.  They ordered at the drive through and ate in the parking lot.  Upon discovering the finger they trashed the rest of the food, notified the store, and went to get Ryan check out.  Police took a statement and the board of health was notified of the incident.

An employee had sliced her finger while operating a meat slicer at the restaurant and left her station without immediately saying she cut herself, said Steve Hall, environmental health director for the Jackson County Health Department. Other workers were filling an order before they became aware of what happened, he said.  I’ve worked in restaurant kitchens, if someone lops off a piece of finger I suppose it’s possible no one noticed for a bit.  Long enough to serve up a bloody digit?  I’m not sure.

As for Arby’s:

“Arby’s wants to reassure customers that we are committed to providing quality food in a safe and healthy environment.  We are deeply concerned and apologetic to the guest involved in this unfortunate incident,” said a letter signed by John Gray, VP of corporate communications and public relations for Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc.  The general manager at the Jackson restaurant declined comment.  In the letter, dated Wednesday, Gray called what happened an “isolated and unfortunate accident” during which an employee was injured at the business at 952 N. West Ave.