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Question for Mac addicts (the fast food chain).

S

sourcemonkey

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 10, 2005
131
0
One step forward, two steps back.
I haven't really been to Mcdonalds much over the last few years but I've been to many of the franchises in a number of different countries in the past. I'm currently in new zealand and have found that of the three times I've been to the Auckland city franchise - every time I was handed my food - there was 'residual food' on the tray. We're talking dried up sauces, bits of gherkin stuck to the tray etc. I complained that it was surely a hygene issue to have this food stuck to the trays for what looked like some time - not just build up from a day or from a badly cleaned tray.
Basically, I can't ever remember having this experience in any other Mcdonalds franchise before, and it certainly never happens in Burger King, KFC, etc. Has anyone else noticed this 'residual food on the tray' issue in Mcdonalds? Am I over-reacting if i think that it's something worth being pissed off about? How much of a health risk is it?
Any input would be appreciated. ;)
 
Having worked in a McD's while at University, it's company policy that each tray is wiped down with a sterliser solution and a clean cloth after each use. The cloths (red edged) should be replaced every 30 minutes and stored in sterilising solution after coming out of the washing machine.

In terms of health risk, it's probably not huge if you keep your food in its containers and eat from those.
 
Applespider said:
Having worked in a McD's while at University, it's company policy that each tray is wiped down with a sterliser solution and a clean cloth after each use. The cloths (red edged) should be replaced every 30 minutes and stored in sterilising solution after coming out of the washing machine.

In terms of health risk, it's probably not huge if you keep your food in its containers and eat from those.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. It's good to know there is actually a set protocol in place. I actually asked the duty manager (well, some kind of 'manager') who was responsible for cleaning them, and all I got from her was an "I dunno". I've gone so far as to phone Mcdonalds NZ and they'll be calling me on monday. I'm not one of those people who complains about these things generally, but it's happened the last three times I've been. I hope I'm not becoming one of 'those people'! :confused:
 
a friend of mine said that when she was working in mcdonalds (in london), there was always moss growing in the mcflurry machine! I was disgusted
 
student_trap said:
a friend of mine said that when she was working in mcdonalds (in london), there was always moss growing in the mcflurry machine! I was disgusted
Click to expand...

I'd be astonished if that's true - although any company's procedures are only as good as the managers who are enforcing them.

The McD's 'Operations Manual' says that both Flurry and Milkshake machines should have the 'mix' removed each night, have sanitiser run through the machines and then parts that come into contact with the 'mix' should be dismantled and scrubbed in a dedicated sink and soaked in sanitiser. Once a week, the mix chain should be broken completely so that any 'leftover' mix was binned rather than stored for the next day. At the point I was there, only floor managers and higher were allowed to clean the machine (it was a horrible job!) and even our tight-fisted franchisee followed those rules since the health and safety implications (when the local EHO did their routine bacteria checks) were so much more risky.

While I eat in McD's very seldomly, their health and safety rules/procedures aren't what put me off. Let's put it this way - I haven't worked there for 10 years but those procedures, safeguards are still locked in my brain. I could probably still take that milkshake machine apart and put it back together again.
 
Applespider said:
I'd be astonished if that's true - although any company's procedures are only as good as the managers who are enforcing them
Click to expand...

this is it exactly, im sure that the manager must have been sacked by now, as my friend was working there a couple of years ago. Also, i'm sure that it was a one off, because as you say, mcdonalds has incredible health and safety standards.

either way, thnks for the reasurance applespider
 
Well my friend worked at a McDonalds, and he said that because the health inspector only stopped by every few months or so (every 3? 6?), they were somewhat slack, and he told me not to work there. And even though he had worked there for around a year, he was "promoted" because everyone else had been there for less time, and he was seen as responsible. He wasn't. He just pretends to work incredibly well. :p
 
sourcemonkey said:
of the three times I've been to the Auckland city franchise - every time I was handed my food - there was 'residual food' on the tray.
Click to expand...

I've never seen this sort of thing before, but then again I go to a smaller "restaurant" with less customers and therefore more time to do cleaning, etc.
 
I used to eat at MaccyD's quite a but when I was younger then started to cut them out when I was getting healthier around 20 ish. Hadn't touched them for years and then when I saw "Super Size Me" I'm so glad I had stopped. So so bad for you!
 
sourcemonkey said:
...I'm currently in new zealand and have found that of the three times I've been to the Auckland city franchise - every time I was handed my food - there was 'residual food' on the tray...
Click to expand...

The only decent burgers I remember from downtown were from The White Lady.
Is that still there?
 
Around Central Floriduh, I can't say that I've found any of the trays dirty but the tables almost always have food on them, even though the place will be empty.

Having worked at two McDonald's--both with AAA ratings--we were pushed to clean as if our lives depended on it. However, I worked at Franchise stores, not company stores. The company stores are always worse.

The other day I went to a Firehouse Subs store and I finally sat down at the third table because it looked clean. Still, the pattern of the table top hid the bits of lettuce and bread. Someone had spilt something on the floor so long ago, that it looked like it was part of the floor. No employee touched a table while I was there, yet they had 10+ tables empty and only 3 tables in actual use.

It's always reasonable to say something when your health might depend on it.
 
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