A McDonald’s restaurant in London was slapped with a fine of nearly $500,000 (approx. Rs 5.14 crore) after a customer found mouse droppings in their burger and filed a complaint. Health officers visited the place and checked the restaurant and discovered the unhygienic conditions infested with rodents and ordered it to close due to health risks, reported the Daily Mail, after which the food chain was fined approximately $5,00,000.
The restaurant’s food hygiene violations came to light in 2021 after a client purchased a cheeseburger from a McDonald’s drive-through in Leytonstone, east London. As the woman was enjoying her meal, she noticed droppings inside the food wrapper, according to the report.
Following this, the customer complained to the council, after which health officials started an investigation.
The authorities visited the power source and saw that it was being used under foul circumstances. A mouse’s decomposing remains and droppings were discovered throughout the outlet, including the kitchen area. The report stated that the inspection also revealed unsanitary conditions in the storage area and staff room.
Customers’ health was at risk, according to the health officials, who ordered the restaurant to close immediately for ten days. Legal action was started against McDonald’s, and the fast food chain was hit with a fine of $500,000 (approx. Rs 5.14 crore) for violating food hygiene laws. A court also ordered McDonald’s to pay £22,000 (approximately Rs 22.6 lakh) in lawful expenses and £190 (Rs 19,537) as casualty overcharge, reported Evening Standard.
According to District Judge Susan Holdham, McDonald’s is “not some backstreet burger or kebab bar—children go to McDonald’s as a treat” and customers expect high food hygiene standards.
According to the report, the judge emphasised that “non-existent or ineffective cleaning over long periods of time” had resulted in the restaurant’s premises becoming filthy and clogged with grease.
