Craig bit into his Quarter Pounder and found something shocking inside, beginning a troubling and painful ordeal.
Craig Freeman, 50, from Brisbane, had a frightening experience after finding a dangerous plastic piece in his McDonald’s Quarter Pounder.
What began as a simple meal soon became a serious health crisis for Mr. Freeman with lasting medical problems.
Man falls into critical situation after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder
Craig had just taken a bite of his burger from the Victoria Point McDonald’s outlet when he felt something was terribly wrong.
‘I ate it and instantly couldn’t breathe. And I was struggling. I was hitting the back of my head trying to dislodge what was stuck in my throat,’ he told The Courier-Mail.
He resorted to forcing his fingers down his throat to dislodge the object. To his shock, he pulled out a jagged shard of hard plastic.
The following morning, Craig woke up in severe pain and sought medical help. Initially, the full extent of his injuries was not clear.
However, after undergoing scans, doctors found that the plastic shard had caused a lesion and significant inflammation in his stomach.
Additionally, Craig suffered external bleeding and persistent vomiting, requiring ongoing treatment.
Medical treatment caused significant financial burden.
Doctors prescribed anti-nausea medication and advised Craig to take Gaviscon daily for six months to manage his symptoms.
An X-ray revealed a foreign object resembling the plastic piece lodged in his lower abdomen, confirming the severity of the injury.
Since December, Craig has spent thousands on medical scans and treatments, adding financial strain to his ongoing physical suffering.
‘They found an object in the scan that resembled the shard of plastic I had swallowed and I had severe inflammation in my lower abdomen,’ Mr Freeman said.
‘I was given anti-nausea medication and have been advised by my doctor to take Gaviscon each morning for six months to stop me constantly throwing up.’
Craig now urges others to carefully inspect their food before eating.
He shared his story publicly after McDonald’s informed him that their investigation into the incident was being closed.
His warning emphasizes the risks fast food customers might face and the importance of vigilance.
McDonald’s responds to the incident
A spokesperson for McDonald’s told The Courier-Mail that food safety is a top priority for the company.
They confirmed staff will be retrained to ensure proper safety protocols and procedures are followed.
The local council was involved in reviewing the matter and determined no further action was necessary.
The company also encouraged Craig to reach out directly to continue the investigation if he had any additional concerns, showing a willingness to address the situation.
‘We strongly encourage the customer to contact us directly, so we can continue our investigation,’ they said.
Similar incident at KFC in the same area
Just weeks later, Wayne Jack experienced a similar scare at a KFC in Victoria Point, where a plastic shard was found in his burger.
Fortunately, he avoided swallowing the object and received an apology and refund from the store.
Both cases have drawn attention to food safety issues at fast food restaurants in the area.
