A 2-year-old girl in Germany was rushed to the hospital after drinking from a McDonald’s water bottle that her mother believes was filled with a disinfectant instead of water.
The incident happened on Nov. 20 at a McDonald’s in Kassel, according to local outlet Hessisch-Niedersächsische Allgemeine. The child’s mother, 34-year-old Katherina Schlemm, said she ordered a Happy Meal with a sealed bottle of still water. But when she handed it to her daughter in the parking lot, the toddler immediately began reacting in distress.
Schlemm said her daughter suddenly turned bright red and started screaming after taking a sip. When she opened the bottle, she said it had a strong alcohol-like smell, making her suspect it contained a cleaning solution rather than water.
She claimed that McDonald’s employees didn’t take her concerns seriously, so she called emergency services herself. Paramedics treated the toddler on-site before taking her to the hospital to make sure there were no additional complications.
Police say the child is extremely lucky to have avoided serious injury. Investigators believe the bottle may have been used by cleaning staff and accidentally ended up back in circulation. Authorities are now investigating the incident as possible negligent bodily harm, and the bottle has been sent to a lab for testing.
A McDonald’s spokesperson told local media the company was moved by what happened but could not comment further during the investigation. The Independent has reached out to McDonald’s for additional comment.
The case comes amid growing concerns about the dangers of chemical contamination. Just last month in Oklahoma, a woman named Holly Hill died after being served a margarita mixed with industrial cleaner instead of alcohol at a local restaurant. The chemical burns caused a hole in her esophagus to form, and the Elgin Police Department is continuing to investigate.
As for the toddler in Germany, authorities say she’s expected to be okay.
Discover more from True News Media
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hard to believe