In a surprising and concerning incident at a McDonald's in Booval, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia, customers witnessed an unusual and unhygienic practice. A video captured by a customer shows an employee drying a wet mop under the fry station's heat lamp, just after mopping the floor.
The footage, taken by Debbie Barakat while she waited for her order, reveals the employee holding the damp mop mere inches from the heat lamp and fries. Barakat shared with Yahoo! News Australia that she overheard another staff member cautioning the employee, stating, "I don't think you should be doing that as it could be a safety issue as it can catch on fire."
Despite this warning, the employee continued her questionable mop-drying method in plain view of customers. Other staff members were seen working around her, reaching over the mop to collect fries for their orders, seemingly unbothered by the potential contamination.
🇦🇺 | EN AUSTRALIA
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Una empleada de McDonald’s, fue vista secando un trapeador mojado bajo la lámpara de calor utilizada para las papas fritas, según informó el New York Post.
El video ha levantado una ola de críticas e indignación en redes sociales. pic.twitter.com/bNRh1Rh8rh
The incident quickly garnered attention, prompting a response from McDonald's Australia. A spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to food safety, stating that they take such issues very seriously.
The spokesperson confirmed that they have directly addressed the incident with the Booval restaurant and have implemented thorough retraining for all employees on McDonald's sanitation, hygiene, and food safety procedures.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper hygiene practices in the food service industry. It also highlights the need for continuous training and vigilance to ensure customer safety and maintain trust.