MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC has landed itself in a spot on account of its reality show Fear Factor. A viewer is suing the broadcaster for $2.5 million, contending that he threw up because of an episode in which contestants ate rats mixed in a blender.

In India the show airs on AXN.

The person Austin Aitken was quoted in an AP report stating that he had never had a problem with the show. In the past participants have eaten worms, insects in order to win $50,000. However showing participants eating rats exceeded the limit Aitken argues.

In a handwritten four-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Cleveland Aitken who is a lawyer by profession said, "To have the individuals on the show eat and drink dead rats was crazy and from a viewer's point of view made me throw-up as well an another in the house at the same time."

His suit added, "NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning and in most cases against their will."

Meanwhile a spokesman for the show declined to make any comments to Reuters on the issue until it had an opportunity to see a copy of the complaint. For the uninitiated Fear Factor makes participants confront their greatest fear in life. It could range from the fear of heights to fear of cockroaches.

Aitken is hopeful that the suit will see a greater degree of moderation come into reality shows.