McDonald's has been fined nearly half-a-million pounds after a customer found mouse droppings in a cheeseburger wrapper.
The customer discovered the droppings on the way home after ordering a cheeseburger from a drive-thru in Leytonstone, east London. They are reported to have only noticed ‘halfway through’ eating the burger, when they discovered what they thought were mouse droppings on the inside of the wrapper.
After complaining to Waltham Forest Council, environmental health officers were sent to investigate the site. They discovered a serious rodent infestation, which included mouse droppings in food preparation areas, cooking areas and hot food holding areas, as well as a ‘decomposing’ mouse elsewhere.
The digraceful hygiene standards are being questioned as to why the branch’s staff or the company’s third-party pest control company Ecolab did not report the issue earlier.
The food hygiene inspectors ordered the 24-hour branch to close immediately, citing an ‘imminent risk to health’, with a number of customers asked to leave the branch on the spot.
McDonald's was taken to Thames Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 2 May, where it was ordered to pay £475,000 for breaching food hygiene laws, along with £22,000 in legal costs and a £190 victim charge. The fast-food giant pleaded guilty to three charges relating to hygiene breaches.
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Mouse droppings were found at the McDonald's drive-thru in Leytonstone
Councillor Khevyn Limbajee, Waltham Forest Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: ‘There was a significant risk posed to the health of residents and visitors to Waltham Forest and as such the council had no option but to take formal action in this case.
‘As a council we take food hygiene seriously and won’t hesitate to follow up complaints and take action where appropriate, irrespective of who operates the food business.’
The east London drive-thru was forced to remain closed for 10 days before officers were happy the issues had been resolved and it could reopen to the public.
A spokesperson for McDonald's said that the company apologised ‘unreservedly’ for the hygiene incident, adding: ‘We are committed to the highest standards of health, safety, quality and hygiene. In this instance, we fell short of the standards we set ourselves across all our restaurants.’
In other foodie news, Jamie Oliver is returning to London's dining scene with a new restaurant opening this year.