McDonalds Richards Bay

Though not a fan of McDonalds, I frequent the Richards Bay Venue on average twice per week, as my kids cannot go the week without thier Burgers and beverages. On a typical Sunday ebvening visit I was stalled at the pickup window at the drive through for an unusually long time. Made me start taking notice of the goings on inside. This is when I was shocked to see a gentlemen preparing burgers with his bare hands. I enquired from the lady at the window as to why staff preparing food dont wear gloves, she said It now McDonalds policy not to use gloves but sanitise every 30/60 minutes. Still shocked, I called whilst at the windo and asked for a supervisor, the call was attended to by a lady, who I could hear talking in the store, so she was close to the window. She also collaborated what the first employee said. But she stated that when handling patties, a tong is used, I told her to come by the window and I will show her a short video I took, showing that the person was not using thongs. She dropped the call. I called the store manager on Tuesday, 2 days later as this gloves issues was bugging me, she advised that it is Mcdondlads policy not to use gloves but to sanitise regularily. When I mentione the video I took, she said that she will send me a whatsapp from her phone and when I I near the store to call her, as she wanted to talk further. This whatsapp never happened and she never shared her number. I called the store today, (26/03/25) but she is apparently left for the day.

It is shocking and concerning that food handlers are handling food with bare hands and 3 people confirm that this is per policy. Considering illness of late and the transferibility of virus, one has to now consider cutting ties from McDonalds considering their now gloves policy.