An employee at a McDonald’s restaurant in Australia has been found using the fries warmer for drying dirty mops.
Caught on video by a customer, the employee was holding the mop under the heat lamp over the fries to dry the mop quicker. This has made customers feel disgusted, unaware of what could be going on behind the scenes of the popular fast-food restaurant.
Who Caught the Employee?
A customer, Debbie Barakat, is the woman who first saw the incident. She could have never guessed what she’d see that day.
She had taken her son to the McDonald’s Booval location, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia, on April 4th, not expecting to see such misconduct in such a popular and established chain restaurant.
How Did She See?
As Barakat was waiting for her food, she could see the fries warmer, which is typically in view at all McDonald’s restaurants.
She said that she looked over when she heard another employee saying it didn’t look safe to be holding a mop under such hot heat lamps. She then claims that the employees looked for the mop dryer before using the fries warmer for orders.
What Happened to the Employee
This incident is not exactly a nice one to witness before you get your order, so what did Barakat do next?
She emailed the manager of the particular location but didn’t get much of a reply. Just a simple email saying that they are taking the right actions needed. Many people who have viewed the video and photos believe the employee should be fired and customers reimbursed.
What McDonald’s Has Said
So, other than a short and not-so-sweet email, what else has McDonald’s said about the shameless incident?
A spokesperson for McDonald’s in Australia has spoken out saying the incident was isolated and being taken extremely seriously. It seems as though the employee has kept her job but will hopefully be taught more about health and food safety.
Online Comments
Many people have viewed the video online and have a lot to say. They are disgusted by what has happened as it reminds them of how bad health and safety can be in the restaurant industry.
A previous employee of a different chain commented that he was shocked at how many health and safety violations he saw. Another claimed the “McMop” was back on the menu.
Worst Things That Have Happened in McDonald’s
Strangely enough, this isn’t the worst thing to ever happen in a McDonald’s.
Unfortunately, the McDonald’s inside play places have been scenes of incidents, with excrement being found smeared down the slide. There have also been many stabbings and shootings and even glass found in burgers in a Big Mac at one of their New York locations.
McDonald’s Won’t be Affected by This Incident
McDonald’s is one of the most famous fast-food chains in the world, with over 40,000 locations.
According to the McDonald’s website, they made over $25.76 Billion in 2022. Their annual profit ensures that incidents like “McMop” don’t affect them at all. They will always make sales despite what happens in their restaurants.
McDonald’s Technical Glitch
Early in 2024, many restaurants had an IT glitch that caused them to close thousands of stores across the globe.
The IT problem occurred March 15th, very early in the morning, meaning there was no breakfast for those looking forward to a McMuffin. Customers could make orders, but there was a problem with them receiving them. McDonald’s received thousands of complaints from angry customers.
Fast Food Causing Obesity in America
39.6% of the U.S. adults are obese. Fast-food restaurants are no help with being cheaper and more convenient than healthy alternatives.
The food choices of an individual has a lot to do with obesity. Many of these choices come from the environment, and as there are so many fast-food places, it’s no wonder the disease is on the rise. There are 200,859 fast-food restaurants across the U.S., and that’s more than enough to always be tempted into an easy but unhealthy meal.
Other Fast-Food Chain Controversies
There have been many fast-food scandals over the years, and the McMop isn’t the worst one.
One really bad scandal was when Jack in the Box had an E. coli outbreak. This caused 4 children to pass away, and others were left in serious condition. In the U.K., there was outrage when KFC had a chicken shortage and had to close many of their locations. Other chains have had controversies with money and taxes.
What to Do if You See Something Gross in a Fast-Food Chain
If you ever come across something that should or should not be happening in a fast-food restaurant then you should speak up.
If the manager is present, alert them immediately. If not, do not wait to call or email. You can also call the local health and food safety government services in your area. If the situation has become a violent or dangerous incident, calling the police is the best action.
