Two-Year-Old Hospitalized After Alleged Contamination in McDonald’s Happy Meal
Kassel, Germany – A two-year-old girl is hospitalized after consuming a Happy Meal purchased at the McDonald’s branch on Göttinger Strasse in Kassel, Germany, on Tuesday, November 7th. The child’s mother, Katharina Schlemm of Niestetal, alleges the still water included with the meal was contaminated with an unidentified liquid, possibly a disinfectant.
Schlemm ordered the Happy Meal at the McDrive counter at 11:53 a.m., specifying still water as the drink. She stated she didn’t notice anything unusual when initially opening the bottle in the parking lot, noting the screw cap was challenging to open as usual. The bottle also had a “sports cap,” a suction attachment common to some sports drinks, according to police. Shortly after consuming the water, the child became ill and was taken to the hospital. While at the restaurant, Schlemm reported a disruptive environment: “I wanted to eat in peace, and then there was a lot of screaming and loud flashing lights.”
McDonald’s Germany has acknowledged the incident and stated they are “fully support[ing] the examination.” A company spokeswoman, speaking from the Munich press office, said, “We are moved by the events,” but declined to comment further pending clarification. Authorities are investigating the possibility that an employee may have mistakenly filled a cleaning disinfectant into a drinking bottle, which then ended up in the children’s meal.
mcdonald’s restaurants in Germany, like other system catering chains, are subject to strict German and EU hygiene regulations, including the HACCP concept designed to minimize health risks. The company also undergoes unannounced inspections by the Fresenius Institute, exceeding legal standards. The branch in Bettenhausen has not yet issued a statement.
