
Customer's disgusting surprise in salad leaves her scarred for life
A woman in New York City was horrified after she bought takeout only to find a rodent mixed in with her salad leaves.
Hannah Rasbach, 27, ordered a salad from a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan but was disgusted by the unwanted addition.
'When I tried to cut it, it didn't feel right, it felt like a fatty piece of meat or something...' she told ABC 7 grimacing.
'I took a better look and I saw the tail and eyes.'
Rasbach was halfway through her meal when she found the rodent and immediately took the container of food back to the restaurant.
Footage showed her inside Ongi on West 37th Street on Monday afternoon talking with an employee before handing over the food.
'[The employee] asked if I thought it had come from the spring mix...obviously, I'm not sure where it came from,' Rasbach continued.
She rushed to the doctor and was put on antibiotics as a precaution, concerned that the rodent may have urinated or defecated on the food.
'We had no idea how this animal died, it could have been rat poison, it could have been disease, any number of things,' she said.
Rasbach told the outlet she can't imagine eating out again ever again.
The owner, Ray Park, handed over the footage to the outlet insisting that the rodent didn't come from his restaurant.
'I was thinking, how can it be happening here, because we have a high standard to run every single day here,' Park told ABC 7.
He added that he had no idea where the rodent came from, and didn't want to guess, as he revealed the establishment had combed over the footage countless times.
'If I use my finger, it's this big including the tail. It's not small,' Park continued.
He said that the kitchen is clean and there had never been evidence of droppings. He kept Rasbach's meal as evidence, he told the outlet.
Rasbach filed a complaint with 311 and the Health Department said it's investigating.
'I would like them to be shut down or investigated,' she said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
How AI could help stop the next pandemic before it starts
Could artificial intelligence tools be used to stop the next pandemic before it starts? During the Covid pandemic, new technology developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins and Duke universities didn't exist. But, for the first time, researchers there say they've devised a revolutionary large language modeling tool - the type of generative AI used in ChatGP - to help predict the spread of any infectious disease, such as bird flu, monkeypox, and RSV. That could help save lives and reduce infections. 'Covid-19 elucidated the challenge of predicting disease spread due to the interplay of complex factors that were constantly changing,' Johns Hopkins' Lauren Gardner, a modeling expert who created the Covid dashboard that was relied upon by people worldwide during the pandemic, said in a statement. 'When conditions were stable the models were fine. However, when new variants emerged or policies changed, we were terrible at predicting the outcomes because we didn't have the modeling capabilities to include critical types of information,' she added. 'The new tool fills this gap.' Gardner was one of the authors of the study published Thursday in the Nature Computational Science journal. The tool, named PandemicLLM, considers recent infection spikes, new variants, and stringent protective measures. The researchers utilized data that had never been used before in pandemic prediction tools, finding that PandemicLLM could accurately predict disease patterns and hospitalization trends one to three weeks out. The data included rates of cases hospitalizations and vaccines, types of government policies, characteristics of disease variants and their prevalence, and state-level demographics. The model incorporates these elements to predict how they will come together and affect how disease behaves. They retroactively applied PandemicLLM to the Covid pandemic, looking at each state over the course of 19 months. The authors said the tool was particularly successful when the outbreak was in flux. It also outperformed existing state-of-the-art forecasting methods, including the highest performing ones on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's CovidHub. 'Traditionally we use the past to predict the future,' author Hao 'Frank' Yang, a Johns Hopkins assistant professor of civil and systems engineering, said. 'But that doesn't give the model sufficient information to understand and predict what's happening. Instead, this framework uses new types of real-time information.' Going forward, they are looking at how large language models can replicate the ways individuals make decisions about their health. They hope that such a model would help officials to design safer and more effective policies. More than a million Americans have died from Covid. It's not a matter of if there will be a next pandemic, but when. Right now, the U.S. is dealing with the spread of H5N1 bird flu, RSV, HMPV, pertussis, and measles, among other health concerns. Vaccination rates for measles have plunged since the pandemic, and general vaccine hesitancy has increased. That has resulted in fears that the nation could see decades of health progress reversed. Furthermore, U.S. health officials have acted to separate from global efforts to respond to pandemics, withdrawing from the World Health Organization earlier this year. Last month, they limited access to Covid vaccines for certain groups. 'We know from Covid-19 that we need better tools so that we can inform more effective policies,' Gardner said. 'There will be another pandemic, and these types of frameworks will be crucial for supporting public health response.'


Medical News Today
43 minutes ago
- Medical News Today
Psilocybin for IBS: Could altering the mind help alter the gut?
Could magic mushrooms help relieve symptoms and treat IBS? A new study aims to find out. Irina Efremova/Stocksy Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common conditions affecting the gut. Despite its prevalence and decades of research, treatments are limited, and the underlying causes remain shrouded in mystery. An ongoing study, conducted by Erin Mauney, MD, is taking a fascinating new approach to this mysterious condition: psychedelics, and more specifically psilocybin. In this article, we will investigate why researcher Erin Mauney believes psilocybin — the active compound in magic mushrooms — might help treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and how her ongoing research is breaking new ground. To help us understand how altering the mind might alter the gut, we will first explore the links between body and brain. Historically — and, to a certain extent, still today — the mind and body have been considered separate. As science has progressed, it has become increasingly clear that, of course, the mind is part of the body. There is no separation. The brain is in tight communication with the body at all times via nerves and chemicals, like hormones and neurotransmitters, and the body talks back in the same language. This two-way interaction is perhaps most pronounced between the brain and the gut. The enteric nervous system (the nervous system of the gut) is the second-largest nervous system in the body after the brain. Some experts even refer to the gut as our 'second brain.' Although the enteric nervous system evolved first, so we could consider it the ' first brain .' Aside from their shared ancient pedigree, why would the gut and brain share such a tight link? In our modern world, where we are never more than 20 meters from a bagel, it is easy to forget that life on the Savannah millennia ago was much less convenient. The gut needed to tell the brain when it required refilling with enough time to hunt, scavenge, or forage for its next meal. As the food is ingested, the brain needs to ask the gut to ramp up its operations and prepare to digest. This relationship helps explain why we can feel longing in the pit of our stomach, and butterflies dance in our intestines when we feel excited: The gut and brain are in cahoots. Speaking in a recent interview, published in the journal Psychedelics , Mauney explains how, during her gastroenterology training, she 'became aware of how common trauma, especially early life trauma, is in the human experience.' 'Although there is more discussion in pediatrics about the cumulative effects of toxic stress over the lifespan,' she continues, 'I think overall this is an area that medicine, particularly gastroenterology and obesity medicine, really fails to understand and address meaningfully.' This piqued her interest in psychological approaches to gut issues. These links have led researchers to believe that IBS has a strong gut-brain component. Mauney and colleagues are currently embarking on the first-ever study to investigate whether talking therapy in conjunction with psilocybin might help relieve symptoms of IBS. Speaking in an interview with the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology ( JC G), Mauney explained that around 60% of people with IBS do not respond to first-line therapies, such as dietary interventions or medications. So, the scientists recruited people with IBS who had already tried a wide range of approaches without experiencing significant benefits. This, she explains, included talking therapies, mind-body therapies, dietary changes, and drugs. In her JC G interview, Mauney explains how psilocybin acts 'transdiagnostically.' In other words, it can alter a range of psychological domains that are common across multiple mental health conditions. For instance, she explains how the drug can influence psychological characteristics such as: Rigidity: An inability to adapt or change. An inability to adapt or change. Rumination: Dwelling on negative thoughts and feelings. Dwelling on negative thoughts and feelings. Anxious over-focus on the self: A preoccupation with personal matters, while almost forgetting the outside world. She also says that psychedelics like psilocybin can help some people shift ingrained thought patterns, which is another facet of many mental health conditions, and some people with IBS. Beyond the psychological aspects of psilocybin treatment, Mauney also has some gut-focused theories. As the gut digests food, it squeezes, swells, deflates, and so on. For most people, these movements cause no distress or go unnoticed. For people with IBS, however, these routine movements may cause discomfort or pain. This is called visceral hypersensitivity. Research in animals suggests that a subtype of serotonin receptors in the gut, called 5HT2a receptors, might play a role in visceral hypersensitivity. Why does this matter? Psilocybin primarily works by activating 5HT2a receptors — so, perhaps it might reduce these uncomfortable sensations. Aside from this link, as Mauney explains in her JCG interview, scientists have also explored whether psilocybin might reduce pain in general. For instance, researchers have examined, with differing results, whether psilocybin could help in the treatment of migraine headaches, chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and more. Because IBS causes visceral pain, this is yet another potential mechanism by which it may impart benefits. With its potential to influence psychology, visceral hypersensitivity, pain, and inflammation, psilocybin is a hopeful candidate for the treatment of IBS. Now, we just need to see the data. Mauney and colleagues' ongoing study was halfway through enrollment as of her April 24th JC G interview. Although she was cautious not to preempt the findings, Mauney was excited to share that at least some of the participants had experienced benefits. In the study, participants are paired with two medical professionals with backgrounds in psychotherapy or psychiatry. Each of the two therapy sessions (two weeks apart) involves the 'dosing' part of the study, where the participant takes psilocybin and relaxes while listening to a carefully curated playlist. Then, the three of them discuss the participants' symptoms, previous life experiences, and whatever comes up during the session. In total, these sessions last 6–8 hours. Mauney explains how the psilocybin 'acts as an amplifier of therapeutic processes,' perhaps enhancing standard talking therapy. Although this approach has not worked for everyone in the trial, for some, Mauney says, it has. She explains that it has encouraged some individuals to engage deeply with difficult parts of their lives, make meaningful changes that they could not manage before, or influence close relationships in ways that have led to reduced symptoms. For others, their symptoms have remained unchanged, but they report that the symptoms are no longer so bothersome. Medical News Today reached out to Ruvini Wijetilaka, MD, a board certified Internal Medicine Physician at Mecca Health, who was not involved in the study. 'As a physician, I find this early research into psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant IBS intriguing and encouraging,' she explained. 'IBS is a complex condition rooted in the brain-gut connection,' she continued, 'and traditional treatments don't always work for everyone.' 'In cases where symptoms persist despite initial interventions, psilocybin may offer a promising alternative for targeting the neurological pathways involved. It's an exciting area of exploration for patients who experience chronic, unrelenting symptoms and have few remaining options.' — Ruvini Wijetilaka, MD Mauney's study is the first to look at this relationship, and the preliminary results are encouraging. However, as she explains, the study is not yet complete, and it might not work. With that said, because the mechanistic theory is promising, and it seems that at least some people have already benefited, we might be forgiven for being optimistic. 'It might sound a little bit out there to the average gastroenterologist,' says Mauney. 'But I think this is really what's needed, and what our patients are calling out for. […] A holistic approach to their suffering.' 'People with IBS that are not responding to available treatments need more options. Under the right conditions, psychedelics are worth a try for this group,' he said. However, he also suggested comparing its efficacy with Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), which he told us has had some success in the treatment of 'people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, back pain (when combined with mindfulness), and long COVID.' Psilocybin is unlikely to work for everyone, but Mauney hopes that, at least for some, this intervention could improve thought processes and relieve the negative impact of a chronic condition that remains poorly understood. 'While more concrete research is needed on this, the study could mark a meaningful shift in how we approach IBS care and gut health as a whole,' concluded Wijetilaka.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent nationwide recall of 1.7m popular home appliances as 17 people are poisoned
A wildly popular home appliance used in millions of American households has been urgently recalled after it was found to be exposing people to dangerous mold growth. Officials say at least 152 customers have reported mold contamination in the units, with 17 of them falling ill. An investigation is underway to determine the source and full scope of the outbreak. Midea, a major appliance manufacturer, pulled approximately 1.7 million U and U+ window air conditioners from the US market on June 5, following reports of mold contamination. The brand names included in the recall are: Midea, Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr Cool, Perfect Aire, and Sea Breeze. These names appear on the front of the units, while the model number can be found on a label located on the front right side when facing the appliance. The products were sold through major retailers both in physical stores and online, including Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Menards, and from March 2020 to May 2025 for $280 to $500. Each unit is white and measures approximately 22 inches wide by 14 inches high. According to the CPSC, they were sold under 13 different brand names. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning that the affected units have drainage issues, which can cause water to pool inside the machines, creating the perfect conditions for mold growth. Pictured are the recalled air conditioners and model numbers 'Pooled water in the air conditioners can fail to drain quickly enough, which can lead to mold growth,' the CPSC said in a statement. Exposure to mold can result in respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and other health issues, especially for individuals with underlying health conditions. Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in moist environments and can release harmful allergens or toxins into the air. Affected customers are eligible for either a free repair or a refund, depending on the model and date of purchase. 'Consumers who want a refund will be asked to return the unit using a free shipping label, or they may submit a photograph showing that they've cut the unplugged power cord to qualify for the refund,' the CPSC explained. Federal officials are urging consumers to stop using the recalled units immediately, particularly if anyone in the household is experiencing symptoms consistent with mold exposure. The recalled units come in three sizes, capable of cooling rooms at 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs). They were manufactured in China and Thailand by GD Midea Air-Conditioning Co, Ltd. Each unit was sold with a remote control and can also be operated via a mobile app. The specific issue lies in the internal drainage system. If the reservoir does not empty quickly enough, stagnant water can accumulate, leading to mold growth inside the appliance. As the mold builds up, the unit may begin dispersing spores into the air, posing a health hazard for anyone nearby. Mold exposure poses a heightened risk for individuals with chronic respiratory issues such as asthma, lung disease, or weakened immune systems. According to the CDC, common symptoms of mold exposure include a stuffy nose, wheezing, fatigue, and red or itchy eyes or skin. Severe cases may result in fever or difficulty breathing. 'People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions,' the CDC states. 'Immunocompromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold.' Consumers who choose to continue using their air conditioner while waiting for a repair should follow the safety inspection instructions provided on Midea's recall page. To begin the refund or repair process, visit the Midea recall website or call 888-345-0251 between 8 am and 5 pm ET, Monday through Friday. The official recall number issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission is 25-320.