If we say ‘fast food’, what do you picture? For a lot of us, the answer is simple: McDonald’s. It is one of the most iconic, most universally recognised vendors of everything grab-and-go from chicken nuggets to ice cream. However, their service is obviously not perfect every single time. We’ve already told you about the customer left baffled by a mysterious 'black and mushy' find in her hash brown but this story involves an actual medical emergency.
Discover our latest podcast
A man in the States is claiming that he almost died after eating a Big Mac. How can that be? Well, it is not because of any foreign objects lurking in his patty - it is because of an allergy. Charles Olsen suffered an anaphylaxis reaction when he tucked into his burger, and had to be rushed to hospital. He is now suing the fast food giant. Here’s what happened, and how dangerous an anaphylaxis reaction really is.
Charles Olsen claims he almost died
Charles, 28, ordered from a branch of the popular brand that he had visited several times before. Charles has a severe milk allergy so he asked specifically for a burger with ‘NO American cheese’ - as seen on a screenshot of the ensuing lawsuit he’s launched against McDonald’s.
As he described it, after tucking into his meal alongside his girlfriend, he started to feel that ‘something wasn’t right’. The suit states:
His throat began to itch and swell. He felt a burning sensation throughout his body. He looked at his girlfriend, Alexandra, and coughed ‘there’s milk in this!”
This isn't the first time something was found in a meal from the chain that shouldn't have been there. There's also the tale of this customer who was horrified after finding a cigarette butt in their son's Happy Meal.
Anaphylaxis reaction
Charles’ body was covered with hives and he was having difficulty breathing as he felt his throat close. Alexandra rushed him to hospital where, the suit claims, he almost needed intubation to survive.
The NHS described anaphylaxis as ‘a life-threatening allergic reaction that happens very quickly’. The symptoms include ‘swelling of your throat and tongue’ as well as ‘difficulty breathing’. You may also, as Charles did, experience a rash or itchy skin.
Essentially, this is a serious allergic reaction that can, if left untreated, lead to death.
Charles’ desire for allergies to be accepted
Charles has spoken about the problems people with allergies face when eating out. Through his lawyers, he said:
I’ve had to go through my entire life having to tiptoe around menus, dealing with staff that doesn’t know how to handle food allergies, and so on.
He insists that with the correct training and systems in place, it should be a ‘simple thing’ for an establishment to deal with allergies. He did admit that ‘here has been progress made’ but said that it is not enough as ‘no one should have to fear for their health when they’re just trying to eat a meal.’
One of his lawyers explained that the experience has been ‘really, really traumatic’ for Charles. The details of the lawsuit have not been made public, and McDonald’s has declined to comment.
Read more:
⋙ Eating these popular foods makes you more attractive, according to scientists
⋙ Rising inflation and roaring shoplifting rates have created a market for stolen food
⋙ Warning: These popular foods can play havoc with your medicine intake
Sources used:
New York Post: McDonald’s customer sues restaurant after claiming cheese on Big Mac almost killed him
NHS: Anaphylaxis
