McDonald’s has revealed that it will no longer be serving hot food to customers following a string of lawsuits. The decision comes after customers claimed they suffered burns from hot food items, including the infamous 1992 “Hot Coffee” case.
The most recent incident occurred in 2019 when a four-year-old girl suffered second-degree burns from a hot chicken McNugget that fell from her Happy Meal onto her thigh. Her mother filed a lawsuit against the restaurant owner and McDonald’s, alleging negligence and failure to warn customers about the risks of hot food.
During the court hearing, lawyers for McDonald’s argued that the nuggets had to be hot to avoid the risk of salmonella. They also argued that the McNuggets were not designed to be pressed between a seat belt and human flesh for more than two minutes. However, the franchise holder was found liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risks of hot food. The jury also found McDonald’s USA liable for failing to provide instructions for the safe handling of the food.
The incident, along with others like the “Hot Coffee” case, has prompted McDonald’s to rethink its approach to serving hot food. The restaurant chain has decided to no longer serve hot food items to prevent customers from getting burned and filing lawsuits against the company.
Instead, McDonald’s will be serving cold to lukewarm food items from now on. However, for customers who still prefer their food hot, they will be given the option to heat up their food items themselves. This way, customers can take responsibility for any burns they may suffer and avoid the possibility of suing the company.
While the decision has received mixed reactions from customers, with some feeling disappointed that they can no longer enjoy their food hot, others believe it is a responsible move to prevent accidents. Only time will tell how this decision will affect McDonald’s sales and customer satisfaction. Nevertheless, it seems that the fast-food giant is taking the safety of its customers seriously.
