A two-year-old girl was taken to hospital in Germany after allegedly drinking cleaning fluid from a McDonald's Happy Meal bottle. The incident occurred on Thursday at a drive-thru in the Kassel-Bettenhausen region of Hesse.
The child's mother, Katharina Schlemm, 34, told the Hessisch-Niedersächsische Allgemeine (HNA) newspaper that instead of water, the 0.33-litre bottle contained a 'strongly alcoholic-smelling liquid, probably a disinfectant'. She said her daughter 'turned bright red' and screamed after drinking from it.
Ms Schlemm claimed the shift supervisor did not take the situation seriously and demanded the bottle back. She then called the police. Officers are now investigating on suspicion of negligent bodily harm. Authorities confiscated the bottle and are analysing its contents.
Paramedics treated the child at the McDonald's before her mother took her to Kassel Hospital to rule out poisoning. Police confirmed the girl was 'not seriously injured' and that there is no sign of intentional wrongdoing by McDonald's.
A McDonald's spokesperson said the company is 'fully cooperating with the investigation' and is 'deeply affected by the events', but cannot comment further until the matter is clarified. Ms Schlemm said she has no idea how the liquid ended up in the bottle.
