A toddler with congenital heart disease got a Happy Meal from McDonald鈥檚 as a treat for his bravery and was served raw chicken, his father claims.
McDonald鈥檚 is investigating the complaint and says it takes 鈥渁ny complaint of this nature very seriously鈥. The franchisee and management were both investigating, a spokesperson said.
The 22-month-old boy swallowed one chicken McNugget and when he took a bite of another, his parents claimed they saw the inside was pink and took him to the bathroom and made him vomit.
This marks the second time a complaint has been made听of a McDonald鈥檚 restaurant serving raw chicken in a week after the fast-food giant fobbed off uncooked chicken to a 6-year-old and blamed it on human error.
In this latest incident, the boy鈥檚 distraught father - who did not wish to be named - claimed staff at the Kelston McDonald鈥檚 in West Auckland where he had bought the meal didn鈥檛 take the matter seriously enough when he reported it.
Raw Chicken served at McDonald's South Auckland Branch. Video / Pravinesh Kumar
鈥淚 called head office to complain and received a call from [the group operations manager],鈥 he said.
鈥淗owever, despite their internal investigation being completed, he has not offered any comments as to what exactly happened and if the chicken was even cooked for a second.鈥
He said McDonald鈥檚 offered him an $8 refund for the meal and a $50 voucher.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be joking,鈥 the father said of the offer.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 go to a restaurant just to be served raw chicken and then go back again next week. We don鈥檛 want money. We just want some accountability.鈥
鈥淩estaurant management have had regular contact with the customer, to check on the wellbeing of the customer鈥檚 child and explain the investigation process, and immediate actions taken,鈥 the spokesman said.
鈥淲hile we understand the customer鈥檚 concerns, the restaurant management has explained several times the formal process they are required to follow and addressed several specific requests he made relating the legal action and compensation.
鈥淭he customer was invited to meet face-to-face at a convenient time, and the restaurant management will provide an update on the investigation findings and actions once it is complete.鈥
The father told the听Herald:听鈥淲e are seriously concerned about our child and others as raw chicken food poisoning can get very bad, especially if your child has underlying health conditions.鈥
He said the group operations manager assured him more signs would be put up in the restaurant鈥檚 kitchen about how chicken must be cooked and staff would get further training.
McDonald鈥檚 spokesman said: 鈥淲hile incidents relating to undercooked products in recent weeks have been unrelated, as a business McDonald鈥檚 takes any type of food safety complaint extremely seriously.
鈥淔indings and learnings are being shared with all restaurants, and a heightened focus on food safety has been implemented nationwide.鈥
The father said he and his wife had been seriously impacted by their raw deal, which they bought on Wednesday, saying they had both cried several times since.
He says his wife, who bought the meal for her son as a treat for being so brave during a recent stint in hospital, has felt responsible for the incident.
鈥淪he feels guilty. Even though it isn鈥檛 her fault, because she bought it she thinks it is,鈥 he said.
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