A two-year-old girl required emergency hospital treatment after allegedly drinking disinfectant from a water bottle included in her McDonald's Happy Meal, prompting a police investigation into the disturbing incident.
Drive-Thru Meal Turns Dangerous
The frightening episode unfolded at a McDonald's drive-thru in Kassel, Germany, where the 34-year-old mother had ordered a Happy Meal for her daughter, specifically requesting water as the drink. According to reports, staff accidentally placed a bottle containing cleaning fluid instead of water into the meal packaging.
The mother only realised something was terribly wrong when her daughter turned bright red and began screaming uncontrollably as they drove away from the restaurant. The strong-smelling liquid had already been consumed by the toddler before the alarming symptoms appeared.
Emergency Response and Police Investigation
Paramedics were quickly called to the scene to provide initial treatment for the child, who was subsequently taken to hospital by her mother for further medical attention. Police confirmed that the young girl was fortunate not to have suffered more serious injuries from consuming the hazardous substance.
The distressed mother returned to the McDonald's branch to confront staff about the incident before contacting law enforcement. German police have launched an investigation for causing bodily harm by negligence, though they found no evidence suggesting intentional harm towards the child.
Authorities believe the bottle had been previously used by staff for cleaning purposes and was inadvertently placed in the Happy Meal packaging instead of a fresh water bottle.
McDonald's Response and Previous Incidents
A McDonald's Germany spokeswoman told the HNA newspaper that the company is "fully cooperating with the investigation" and expressed that they were "moved by the events". However, the fast-food giant declined to comment further while the police investigation remains ongoing.
This isn't the first time concerning items have been discovered in McDonald's children's meals. In October 2023, a British mother from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, reported finding a cigarette butt in her child's fish finger meal box.
Gemma Kirk-Bonner, a teaching assistant, made the disgusting discovery while feeding her one-year-old son Caleb and three-year-old Jackson. She had purchased two £3.59 fish finger boxes when she noticed the cigarette stub at the bottom of the container.
McDonald's encouraged the family to contact customer services to properly investigate and resolve the matter, highlighting ongoing concerns about food safety protocols in fast-food establishments.
