A viral video depicting a McDonald's employee consuming fries before placing them into a packet intended for customers has ignited widespread outrage. The footage, captured at a McDonald's location in Southbridge, Massachusetts, has prompted an investigation by the Southbridge Police Department in collaboration with the Board of Health and the franchise owners.
Video Details and Initial Response
The video, obtained and published by Boston 25 News, shows a female employee putting several handfuls of fries into her mouth while saying, "You want french fries today, right?" A second female employee is seen smiling and laughing at the camera. The clip was originally posted to a private social media page last week before spreading online, according to the Boston Globe.
On Friday, the Southbridge Police Department issued a statement acknowledging the incident: "Since the video was posted, our department has received numerous calls, online tips, and media inquiries regarding the incident." The department added that it is "working to determine whether the food was ultimately served to a customer and to identify any individual who may have been affected."
Franchise Owners' Actions
The Spadea and Balducci families, who operate the McDonald's franchise, told the New York Post that they terminated the employees involved in the video, though their identities were not publicly disclosed. "The actions of these individuals are unacceptable and do not reflect our organization’s food safety standards or values," the franchise owners stated. They further noted, "We are proactively working with local authorities and the local health department, who found no public health concerns or violations. The wellbeing and safety of our Southbridge community remains our top priority."
Public Outrage
Local residents expressed their disgust to Boston 25 News. One resident named Jim commented, "That's disgusting. Are you kidding me? It's not sanitary. I'm done with this McDonald's at least, and I might be done for quite a while with fast food." Another local simply stated, "It's unacceptable." A third said, "That's a problem. That's a safety issue." A fourth added, "I think it's crazy that people are messing with other people's food. I thought it was disgusting, honestly."
Legal Implications
It remains unclear whether the employees will face criminal charges. Under Massachusetts law, distributing food contaminated with a foreign substance that could cause injury is punishable by up to five years in prison. Federal law also prohibits tampering with food in a way that could cause injury, carrying a similar penalty. Charges would only apply if the fries were indeed served to a customer.
The Southbridge Police Department stated, "We understand the concern this incident has generated within the community" and requested patience "while this investigation is ongoing." The Daily Mail has reached out to the department for further comment on potential criminal charges.
