NYC student sues SUNY college after swallowing ‘sharp’ metal in dining hall sandwich: lawsuit

A Staten Islander is suing her former state college after she allegedly swallowed a “sharp piece of metal rivet” inside a sandwich she bought at a campus eatery.  

Barbara Esposito-Mattera, 22, allegedly ingested the unwanted topping after she ordered a sub from Yella’s at SUNY Delhi, located in the Catskills, in September 2025.

The then-senior environmental studies major had ordered the chain’s “Benny Brown,” a sandwich loaded with sliced steak, sauteed onions, mozzarella and gravy. 

Barbara Esposito-Mattera allegedly ingested the metal piece in September 2025. SUNY Delhi
She is suing after biting into a cafeteria sandwich with a sharp piece of metal rivet. Yella’s/Facebook

But she was shell-shocked when the savory combo was allegedly interrupted by a painful mouthful of metal, according to a lawsuit filed in Staten Island Supreme Court on Sept. 18.

Esposito-Mattera claims the hardware left her severely and permanently injured.

She blames the College Association at Delhi, the nonprofit that manages Delhi’s dining options, and Sodexo, Yella’s food licensing partner, for serving her food unfit for human consumption. 

She is suing for unspecified damages. 

She was a senior at SUNY Delhi at the time. SUNY Delhi

Esposito-Mattera declined to comment. Her lawyer, John Januas, the College Association at Delhi and Sodexo did not return requests for comment.

Esposito-Mattera’s alleged metallic nightmare comes about six months after a Florida woman won a whopping $14 million after eating ice cream filled with metal nails that left her infertile.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *