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Maccas aren’t lovin’ the over 60s

<p dir="ltr">A McDonald’s in Auckland Central has landed itself in hot water after posting a job ad that wanted nothing to do with the over 60 workforce. </p> <p dir="ltr">The post, shared to the establishment’s Facebook page and since removed, sought new staff to cover the 10pm to 6am ‘graveyard’ shift. The usual benefits and various position criteria were listed, but it was one line at the bottom that caught the attention - and ire - of the masses.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Any age from 16 to 60,” the listing read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Feedback came fast and furious, with many outraged by the blatant ageism the fast food giant was peddling. And while McDonald’s tried to pass it off as the fault of a franchisee, the store’s manager instead said that their head office was at fault.</p> <p dir="ltr">Social media users were vocal about what they thought of the ad, and it wasn’t long before legal experts and union representatives got involved in the ongoing uproar - and even the big wigs over at McDonald’s. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve been made aware that a job ad by one of our franchisees has created some debate on social media like Reddit, as it references an age range of 16-60,” company spokesperson Simon Kenny said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The reference in the copy was intended to illustrate that people of all ages are welcome. We’ve asked the franchisee to update the copy to avoid any potential confusion.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As Joe Carolan from New Zealand’s Unite Union told the <em>New Zealand Herald</em>, “contrary to the myth that most McDonald’s jobs are [ideal for] part-time students, improvements made by the union throughout the years have seen many workers stay in these jobs into their 50s. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Older workers bring experience, stability and maturity to a workplace and we call on McDonald's to end this discriminatory ageism.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Employment law expert Max Whitehead added that the pay - $22.80 per hour - combined with the age restrictions, were a “blatant” breach of the Human Rights Act. </p> <p dir="ltr">And for those who thought the line had just been an ill-advised marketing move, Whitehead noted “if it really is to get a catchy cliche going, it’s a stupid thing to do.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Whitehead’s fellow expert, Professor Bill Hodge, had more to say on the matter of ageism too, noting that The Human Rights Act actually bans discrimination against people over the age of 60, though he saw no issue with the teenage half of the equation. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We discriminate against people 14 or 15 all the time and it’s justifiable to say ‘no, you can’t drive a car, you can’t leave school’,” he said. “On the face of it I see no obvious requirement that would exclude people over 60.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As a spokesperson for the Humans Right Campaign informed the <em>New Zealand Herald</em>, The Human Rights Act 1993 had rendered it unlawful for people to be treated differently for their age during the employment process. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It is unlawful to discriminate against employees, job applicants, voluntary workers, people seeking work through an employment agency and contract workers because of age,” the spokesperson explained. “The only exception is where, for reasons of authenticity, being of a particular age is a genuine occupational qualification for the position or employment.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Shutterstock, Facebook</em></p>

Money & Banking

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"I'm lovin' it": McDonald's face public outcry over unfortunately placed ad

<p>McDonald's has faced the wrath of angry locals in Cornwall, UK, after a poorly placed advertisement was called out for being "tasteless". </p> <p>The advertisement in question was for the fast food franchise's new McCrispy burger, which was placed in a prime position on the side of a bus stop. </p> <p>However, what the company didn't realise was that the sign right next to it pointed to Penmount Crematorium across the road, in an unfortunate yet humorous coincidence.</p> <p>Local media outlet <a href="https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mcdonalds-remove-tasteless-sign-opposite-8133444" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>CornwallLive</em></a> was the first to report on the poorly placed ad, and asked local residents if they thought the sign should stay or go. </p> <p>"Fell off the chair laughing," one commenter who saw the picture online said. </p> <p>"I'm lovin' it," wrote another, in reference to the popular McDonald's slogan.</p> <p>"I only recently lost 2 loved ones &amp; to be honest if I'd seen that sign near the crematorium I would have smiled. I don't find it offensive at all," said another.</p> <p>"My parents are in this crematorium. My old man had a brilliant sense of humour, so I'm sure he would have chuckled at this!" another added.</p> <p>One concerned local said, "I think how funny it is will probably depend on how long ago you followed the crematorium sign wearing a black tie."</p> <p>One woman, who's mother-in-law was cremated at the crematorium, said, "Although I can see the funny side, it is tasteless and I'm sure some grieving family members won't like to see it when visiting Penmount for the funeral and cremation of a loved one."</p> <p>Cornwall Council, who are in charge of both the crematorium and the bus shelter, have yet to comment on the matter, while McDonald's are taking the concerns about the ad seriously. </p> <p>A spokesperson told <em>CornwallLive</em>, "We were unaware of the road sign in the vicinity of this bus stop. However, in light of the concerns raised by CornwallLive, we have asked for our advertisement to be removed."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

Caring

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Toddler orders $130 worth of McDonald's cheeseburgers

<p>A DoorDash driver handed one very confused mum 31 cheeseburgers and thanked her for leaving a generous tip.</p> <p>When Kelsey Burkhalter Golden checked her phone she realised her toddler Garrett had been “playing” on her phone, logging the large order.</p> <p>"He was really just flicking it around and making like roller coaster moves with his arms and fingers," she said. "I thought he was just looking at his reflection and carrying the phone around and about 30 minutes later, I got a text from the DoorDash company that was like, 'Hey, it's gonna take a little bit longer than usual to take your order.'"</p> <p>When the doorbell rang and Golden saw the size of the order, she was shocked.</p> <p>"So I go and open the door and there's this girl standing there and she's like, 'Your 31 cheeseburgers?'" Golden laughed. "I just stared at her awkwardly for like 15 seconds but then I just took them, like, 'Oh, thank you!'"</p> <p>"And she was like, 'Thank you for the tip!'."</p> <p>The cost of the cheeseburgers came to $US61.58, but with a $16 tip and app fees, the total came to $91.70 ($AU131.85).</p> <p>"He actually doesn't even like cheeseburgers. He ate half of one," the mum said. "We had about 30 and a half cheeseburgers on our hands."</p> <p>Trying to find a solution, Kelsey posted in a neighborhood Facebook group that she had "31 free cheeseburgers from McDonald's if anyone is interested. Apparently my 2 yr old knows how to order DoorDash," accompanied by a hilarious picture of Garrett sitting next to the stacked cheeseburgers with a smug smile on his face.</p> <p>The majority was taken by a large local family, as well as other neighbours.</p> <p>"It was an innocent thing. He was just playing with my phone," she said.</p> <p>"I don't strive too much for perfection. My kids are really super happy and that's what matters."</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“Every shift is memorable”: One Ronald McDonald volunteer’s experience

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For sick and injured children, Ronald McDonald Houses provide a place for families to find support when they need it most.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Trisha Crane, a mother of two, grandmother of three, and one of the charity’s longest-serving volunteers, started volunteering 26 years ago after responding to an ad in a local paper.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve always done volunteering and I saw something in the local paper for the (Ronald McDonald) house and decided to sign up,” Trisha told <em>OverSixty</em>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It seemed like a great idea as it was child-oriented and, as a school teacher, I liked that.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though she now helps out with data entry, Trisha has spent much of her time at Westmead’s House and interacted closely with the families staying there.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s very obvious the difference having family close by has for a sick child,” she said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Families also benefit from talking with people who can relate to the challenges they’re facing.”</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzImrQl6as/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzImrQl6as/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by RMHC Australia (@rmhcaustralia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked about whether she had a memorable moment during her time as a volunteer, she said: “I don’t have a specific memory but every shift is memorable as I enjoy working with the other volunteers and staff.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McHappy Day, the fundraiser that supports the Ronald McDonald Houses, directs 100 percent of its funds towards the charity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the 30th McHappy Day fast approaching, McDonald’s has launched a new range of silly socks that people can purchase to support the cause.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">who’s ready to do good, feel good &amp; look good in these bad boys? <a href="https://t.co/qNSMQxXteX">pic.twitter.com/qNSMQxXteX</a></p> — McDonald's Australia (@maccas) <a href="https://twitter.com/maccas/status/1450597636910850048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“McHappy Day is crucial to enabling us to continue to help seriously ill and injured children and their families across Australia,” Trisha said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Funds raised by McDonald’s and its customers through the purchase of Silly Socks supports programs such as Ronald McDonald Houses, Family Rooms, Family Retreats and our National Learning Program, which make a real impact in the lives of families and children in their time of need.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those considering volunteering their time, Trisha said to take the plunge.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Just come and give volunteering a go!”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Supplied</span></em></p>

Mind

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Grandma shows off 24-year-old McDonald’s burger that “never rotted or decayed”

<p>While it may seem like the sensible idea to throw food away after several weeks, months, or even years – one woman has proven just how far she went with her McDonald’s hamburger and French fries.</p> <p>A Tiktok user recently took to social media to share her grandmother’s decades-old possession that she keeps hiding away in a shoe box in her closet.</p> <p>Aly Sherb showed her grandma pulling open the 24-year-old wrapper to reveal a slightly old looking hamburger that she purchased in 1996.</p> <p>She starts off the video by showing the bag’s advertisement for US Nascar races in 1996.</p> <p>She then takes out the fries, which she says look like they could have fallen into a seat “a month or so ago” and says that they “never rotted or decayed.”</p> <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6865455379787173126"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@aly.sherb" target="_blank" title="@aly.sherb">@aly.sherb</a> <p>Make this go viral, y’all <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/grandparentsoftiktok" target="_blank" title="grandparentsoftiktok">##grandparentsoftiktok</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mcdonalds" target="_blank" title="mcdonalds">##mcdonalds</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" title="fyp">##fyp</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/decadechallenge" target="_blank" title="decadechallenge">##decadechallenge</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou" target="_blank" title="foryou">##foryou</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/happymeal" target="_blank" title="happymeal">##happymeal</a></p> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6865455385554406150" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - aly.sherb">♬ original sound - aly.sherb</a></blockquote> <p>The woman then shows the burger that she purchased in its original wrapping, then pulls out the burger.</p> <p>The bun and burger appear to never have rotted or decayed either.</p> <p>The video finishes with her saying, “24-year-old hamburger, not sure what would happen if you ate it though.”</p> <p>Anne Christensen, director of Field Brand Reputation for McDonald’s, told Fox News: “In the right environment, our burgers, like most other foods, could decompose. But, in order to decompose, you need certain conditions — specifically moisture.”</p> <p>“Without sufficient moisture – either in the food itself or the environment – bacteria and mold may not grow and therefore, decomposition is unlikely.</p> <p>“So if food is or becomes dry enough, it is unlikely to grow mold or bacteria or decompose. Food prepared at home that is left to dehydrate could see similar results. Similarly, this particular burger is likely dried out and dehydrated, and by no means the same as the day it was purchased.”</p>

Food & Wine

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The McDonald’s cleaning hack you NEED to try

<p>An Aussie mum has revealed her simple hack for vacuuming tricky areas using an unlikely item from McDonald’s. </p> <p>Taking to Facebook, Queensland mum Kythaya showed how she uses the lid and straw of a Macca’s drinking cup to suck up dust and insects.</p> <p>The trick works by holding the lid of the plastic cup against the end of the vacuum hose and threading the straw inside the hole.</p> <p><img style="width: 364.2384105960265px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837377/screen-shot-2020-08-14-at-21919-pm.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7f6e437dbdc34176899b8d15d19124d3" /></p> <p>When turning no the vacuum hold the lid and straw and move the hose around to suck up dirt and debris from hard-to-reach places.</p> <p>“Check this out, ladies,” she wrote on the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mumswhoclean/" target="_blank">Mums Who Clean</a> page.</p> <p>“The flies that were stuck in the window sills are gone. There is probably an actual connection for this, but this works too.</p> <p>“Just don’t let the straw go!”</p> <p>The easy trick has gone viral, with thousands responding to Kythaya’s post.</p> <p>“Keep your Macca’s rubbish! Can’t wait to try this,” said one.</p> <p>Added another: “So going to try this! With five kids and Macca’s across the road we have way too many lids and straws.”</p> <p>Said a third: “I did this on my sliding doors and it was amazing. You are a genius.”</p>

Home & Garden

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Suspected murderers' drove straight to McDonald's

<p><span>Three people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of three friends who set out to go on a fishing trip.</span><br /><br /><span>Authorities confirm they have arrested Tony "TJ" Wiggins, 26, has been arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing the three men near a lake in the central Florida community of Frostproof on Friday night, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.</span><br /><br /><span>Wiggins' girlfriend, Mary Whittemore, 27, and his brother, William "Robert" Wiggins, 21, have also been charged with accessory after the fact of a capital felony.</span><br /><br /><span>The trio were arrested just five days after they allegedly killed three mates, Damion Tillman, 23, Keven Springfield, 30, and Brandon Rollins, 27.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837057/murder-trio-alleged-au-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b54b11269c88432fa539056c2027153a" /></p> <p><em>Brandon Rollins</em><br /><br /><span>Mr Rollins called his father before his death, begging for “help”.</span><br /><br /><span>The three friends were planning to fish on Friday night, but a truck carrying the suspects followed them.</span><br /><br /><span>Judd says TJ Wiggins eventually got out and shot them in a rural area of Frostproof, east of Tampa.</span><br /><br /><span>"When we found these people ... massacred ... we thought, my goodness, what could have happened there. Now we know," Judd told reporters Wednesday.</span><br /><span>Details about whether the three suspects had attorneys weren't immediately available.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837056/murder-trio-alleged-au-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d13516aaec3941b0a1159a8d6a37c931" /><br /><br /><span>Surveillance video showed Damion Tillman purchasing items at Dollar General, and a clerk told investigators that Tillman said he was going fishing.</span><br /><br /><span>After questioning all three suspects, Robert Wiggins eventually admitted to investigators that he had seen Tillman at the Dollar General store Friday night while standing in line with his brother, the sheriff's office said.</span><br /><br /><span>Robert Wiggins went on to tell investigators that while driving a truck with TJ and Whittemore, his older brother directed him to turn onto a particular road instead of going home.</span><br /><br /><span>Then two trucks carrying the three eventual victims passed by, and TJ Wiggins told his brother to "make a U-turn and follow the trucks," the sheriff's office said.</span><br /><br /><span>The sheriffs office said "Robert stayed in the truck with Whittemore, while TJ got out and confronted" one of the men.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837058/murder-trio-alleged-au-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/901feef8bfb54ef4a1dfd14f93d2d75d" /></p> <p><em>Mr Rollins called his father before his death, begging for “help”.</em><br /><br /><span>He allegedly punched him and accused him of stealing his truck.</span><br /><br /><span>"Robert told detectives he watched as TJ shot all three victims. TJ then asked Robert to help him put (one of the victims) into the back of one of the trucks," the sheriff's office said.</span><br /><br /><span>Judd says he they are still uncertain about the details or veracity of TJ Wiggins' claim surrounding the stolen truck.</span><br /><br /><span>"The only information we have is TJ is allegedly mad over some kind of truck deal that happened some period of time ago. We've not had an opportunity to ... dig into that," the sheriff said.</span><br /><br /><span>Oddly enough, the suspects allegedly drove to McDonald’s right after the killings and ordered 10 double cheeseburgers and two chicken sandwiches.</span><br /><br /><span>The next morning, Robert took his truck to a car wash and cleaned it, according to the sheriff's office.</span><br /><br /><span>TJ Wiggins is being held on charges of first-degree murder; tampering with evidence; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, the sheriff's office said.</span><br /><br /><span>All three suspects are scheduled to have their first appearance in court at 1 p.m. on Thursday.</span></p>

Legal

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The real way McDonald’s makes their money – it’s not their food

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This fast-food giant may serve billions and billions of customers, but the bulk of their profit isn’t made from food sales.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McDonald’s sells a lot of food. Like, a lot of food. We’re talking enough food to serve more than 70 million people every day, with more than 75 burgers sold every second.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That shouldn’t be too surprising, considering McDonald’s is one of the largest fast-food chains in the world. But their menu actually isn’t what generates the company’s multi-billion dollar profits. The real best-seller? Real estate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are more than 36,000 McDonald’s locations worldwide, but only about five percent of them are company-owned. The rest are franchised out, meaning they’re run by individuals who McDonald’s has contracted to operate them. In those situations, the company only spends money on the real estate of that location. The franchisee is responsible for all the costs of running the restaurant while also paying McDonald’s for rent (which adds up to an average of 10.7 percent of their sales), a US$45,000 franchisee fee, and a monthly service fee equal to four percent of gross sales, </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-costs-to-open-a-mcdonalds-2014-11"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business Insider reports.</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">With multiple means of collecting revenue at relatively minimal costs, it’s no wonder McDonald’s relies so heavily on franchises.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are not basically in the food business,” former McDonald’s CFO Harry J. Sonneborn reportedly told investors. “We are in the real estate business. The only reason we sell 15 cent hamburgers is because they are the greatest producer of revenue from which our tenants can pay us rent.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Being able to hand off the costs of running the restaurants is a primary key to McDonald’s success. According to Wall Street Survivor, in 2014, the company made US$27.4 billion in revenue, with US$9.2 billion coming from franchised locations and US$18.2bn from company-owned locations. But after you factor in the total costs of running those locations, McDonald’s kept only 16 percent of the revenue from locations it owned directly compared to the 82 percent of the franchise-generated revenue.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, while you may spend money at McDonald’s on a Big Mac and fries, McDonald’s is spending money on prime real estate – and they’re lovin’ it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Claire Nowak. This article first appeared in </span><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/money/real-way-mcdonalds-makes-their-money-its-not-their-food"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here’s our best subscription offer.</span></a></p>

Legal

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How a McDonald’s hot chocolate nearly killed a man

<p>A paramedic with a severe lactose allergy had to be rushed to hospital after a McDonald’s employee mistakenly gave him a hot chocolate.</p> <p>22-year-old George Brown originally ordered a black coffee because of his allergy to milk but was given the wrong beverage at the Manchester Piccadilly Gardens branch in the UK.</p> <p>Despite making sure to provide clear instructions in his self-service order for a black coffee, the risk was hardly minimised as Mr Brown was still the victim of human error.</p> <p>“I took one sip of the drink and spat it out,” said Mr Brown. “My tongue started swelling immediately. I was wheezing, dizzy and short of breath.”</p> <p>“The risk with an allergic reaction is that they are unpredictable. You can’t tell if they’re going to get worse.</p> <p>“A reaction like this can narrow your airways to the point where you can’t breathe – respiratory arrest – and then the heart stops – cardiac arrests – which means death.</p> <p>“That’s the severe level it could have gone to. I could have died.”</p> <p>Thankfully, he was on duty when the incident occurred, and his fellow paramedic colleague knew exactly what to do and had the right drugs on hand.</p> <p>Richard McManus immediately jumped to the rescue as he gave Mr Brown antihistamine to reduce the swelling and nebulised medication.</p> <p>He also radioed for a rapid response car, which took the young man to Manchester Royal Infirmary.</p> <p>McDonald’s has since apologised for the “most unfortunate error” and said it was “simply not good enough.”</p> <p>The fast food empire claims to provide training to their staff on how to deal with food allergies.</p> <p>Mr Brown was compensated with a replacement large coffee, free breakfast and meal vouches.</p> <p>McDonald’s said: “We absolutely recognise this mistake was unacceptable and sincerely apologise to the customer in question.</p> <p>“This was simply not good enough. We have a number of procedures in place to avoid inaccurate orders, but in this case, these were clearly not followed.</p> <p>“The incident was fully investigated, and the restaurant team have undergone specific additional training to ensure a mistake like this is not made again.”</p>

Body

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How McDonald's meal deals are tricking customers into spending more money

<p>McDonald’s is tricking customers into spending more money with the introduction of the value-for-money menu that has seen global profits jump 13 per cent to almost $2 billion.</p> <p>It’s been a big year for the golden arches with products like soft drinks, sausages wraps, triple cheeseburgers available at attractive $1, $2 or $3 price points.</p> <p>But while these initiatives make it seem like the customer is saving money, in reality it’s actually making them spend more of their hard-earned cash.</p> <p>CNBC reports McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook has said customers are creating meals with several different items, making their total a the checkout much higher.</p> <p>“More customers are recognising that we are becoming a better McDonald's, appreciating our great tasting food, fast and friendly service and compelling value as we execute our Velocity Growth Plan,” he said in a statement to <a href="/dailymail.co.uk/auhome/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Daily Mail Australia</strong></em></span></a>.</p> <p>Australian restaurants have led the charge with these innovations.</p> <p>“We're keeping the customer at the centre of everything we do as we continue enhancing their McDonald's experience,” Mr Easterbrook added.</p> <p>“We are satisfying the rising expectations customers have for the taste and quality of our food and greater convenience as they visit our restaurants or enjoy meals delivered to their homes and offices.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Do you visit McDonald’s often?</p>

Food & Wine

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Donald Trump's McDonald's order will make you sick

<p>Leader of the free world is one of those jobs where you’re bound to work up an appetite, and if a new book is anything to go by, when it comes to US president Donald Trump these cravings manifest themselves in fast food binges.</p> <p>According to the <em><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Washington Post</strong></span></a></em>, the book reveals all the greasy details surrounding Trump’s fast food diet, with the authors writing, “On Trump Force One there were four major food groups: McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, pizza and Diet Coke.”</p> <p>And when it comes to the golden arches, Trump doesn’t mess around.</p> <p>According to the book, Trump’s usual McDonald’s order was: “two Big Macs, two Fillet-O-Fish, and a chocolate malted.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Donald Trump’s McDonalds order has been revealed and it’s absolutely huge<a href="https://t.co/VivZSKTlFe">https://t.co/VivZSKTlFe</a> <a href="https://t.co/wRYEPpj7NK">pic.twitter.com/wRYEPpj7NK</a></p> — Mirror Politics (@MirrorPolitics) <a href="https://twitter.com/MirrorPolitics/status/937348931096334336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>If the US president chose a medium shake and no fries the meal would come in at 1,900 calories. Adding a side of fries would bump the meal up to 2,230 calories, which is almost the entire recommended daily intake of an adult male.</p> <p>The book also details how meals were delivered, stating, “the orchestrating and timing of Mr. Trump’s meals was as important as any other aspect of his march to the presidency”, with fast food carefully delivered to his plane after the then US presidential-candidate finished speaking at an event.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? What’s your standard McDonald’s order? </p>

News

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Why McDonald's changed its French fries recipe

<p>A glaring report has found why McDonald’s French fries don’t taste as good as they once did back in the 90s.</p> <p>Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell hosts a podcast called <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/19-mcdonalds-broke-my-heart" target="_blank">Revisionist History</a></strong></span>, which looks at all things overlooked and misunderstood.</p> <p>He dug deep to investigate why McDonald’s changed its recipe to create a product that “tastes like cardboard”, Gladwell said.</p> <p>“They made the world’s greatest French Fry. Then they threw it away,” he said on his podcast.</p> <p>Gladwell's sleuthing takes him back to when McDonald’s changed their recipe for French fries on July 23, 1990. And the fast food chain hasn’t looked back.</p> <p>It’s all thanks to a man called Phil Sokolof, an American crusader whose heart attack in 1966 “turned him into a national evangelist of a low-cholesterol diet,” according to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/17/us/phil-sokolof-82-a-crusader-against-cholesterol-is-dead.html?_r=0" target="_blank">The </a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/17/us/phil-sokolof-82-a-crusader-against-cholesterol-is-dead.html?_r=0" target="_blank">New York Times</a>.</strong></span></p> <p>After a heart attack at 43, the businessman spent $3 million of his own money financing newspaper ads condemning fast food chains like McDonald’s for poisoning America.</p> <p>He founded the National Heart Savers Association in 1985 and convinced McDonald’s to produce a low-fat, low-cholesterol hamburger in 1991.</p> <p>“I can’t say we’re going to tear down the golden arches by the year 2000,” Mr. Sokolof told The New York Times in 1990, “but I am confident that by the year 2000 they are going to be serving more healthful food.”</p> <p>At the time, McDonald’s was cooking its French fries in beef tallow, an animal fat.</p> <p>After Sokolof put out a full-page ad attacking the chain, headlined “the poisoning of America”, accusing McDonald’s of selling fries loaded in fat, McDonald's had to act. </p> <p>Although the chain denied the claim, it finally gave in on July 23, 1990 and changed the oil the fries are cooked in, thereby completely changing its taste.</p> <p>Gladwell explained that by changing the fat, described as “Formula 47”, McDonald’s changed everything about the fry.</p> <p>“They went from frying them in beef tallow to frying them in some combination of vegetable oil,” Gladwell explained.</p> <p>“And as you dig into this, what you realise is that that is not an inconsequential move. It’s not like when you’re frying an egg where it doesn’t really matter what you fry it in. A fried egg is a fried egg.</p> <p>“A French fry is a combination of a potato and some kind of cooking element. The thing you fry it in becomes a constituent part of the fry.”</p> <p>But as it turns out, they were wrong.</p> <p>“It turns out to be false that vegetable oil is healthier for you than beef tallow,” Gladwell said. “So not only did they destroy the French fry, they gave us something that was worse for us from a health perspective. So everything about it was a mistake.</p> <p>“If they had any balls at all, they would turn around and say, ‘We were wrong, and we’re going back to fries the old way,’” he said.</p> <p>What do you think of McDonald's fries? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Food & Wine

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This McDonald's optical illusion is not for the faint of heart

<p>Most people only ever associate the golden arches with burgers and fries, but if this story is anything to go by soon McDonald’s is going to be synonymous with tests of the mind!</p> <p>McDonald’s shared the following optical illusion on its Facebook page in the UK, and it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. Can you spot the hidden image in this picture?</p> <p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/44539/mcdonalds-in-text_500x500.jpg" alt="Mc Donalds -in -text"/></p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook / McDonald's UK</em></p> <p>Having trouble? You’re not the only one.</p> <p>“As if my eyes weren't bad enough... spent a good 10 mins looking at this now everything I look at looks like a zebra on steroids,” joked one.</p> <p>“That's just messed up my eyes, thanks McDonald's,” wrote another.</p> <p>So how do you solve this brain teaser? Well, a couple of McDonald’s have posted some handy hints for people who don’t want to succumb to eye-strain.</p> <p>“Just tilt your phone backwards so you see it at an angle, lol, no eye strain required,” suggested one.</p> <p>“Tip to anyone trying to strain to read this - just out stretch your arm and hold your phone far away from your face,” added another tipster.</p> <p>So, what’s the hidden image?</p> <p>Well, it’s a message that says, “Bring McNuggets”.</p> <p>Did you solve this optical illusion?</p>

Mind

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Bottle of McDonald's secret ingredient sells for over $19,000

<div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Online bidders have gone into a frenzy after a bottle of rare McDonald's Szechuan sauce went for auction, with the sauce eventually selling for for over $19,000 on eBay. </p> <p>The sauce grew in popularity after it was mentioned in the third series of adult sci-fi cartoon <em>Rick and Morty</em>. It was added to the fast food chain's menu in 1988 for a limited time to promote Disney's film <em>Mulan</em>. </p> <p>McDonald's handed out a limited number of bottles of the iconic sauce and writer Robert Workman received a bottle and put it on eBay. The sale attracted a lot of attention and eventually sold for US$15,350 (AU$19,443). </p> <p>"It's being sold here to settle some bills and help out a couple of charities in the process," he said. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/41059/sauce_499x375.jpg" alt="Sauce"/></p> <p>"The auction includes a NEW, SEALED 64 oz. bottle of the special sauce (which isn't being made right now, so it's VERY rare), along with a special Rick and Morty inspired Pelican camera case, which houses the sauce."</p> <p>Part of the proceeds were to go to children's charity Extra Life and gaming charity AbleGamers. </p> <p>However, Robert has explained that he's had "no response from the buyer yet" since the auction concluded.</p> <p>“He did not want the sauce, he did not contact me in any way ... we have not heard back and there’s a possibility we may not hear back."</p> <p>“He’s sitting on a bunch of eBay fees and it’s kind of disappointing. We’re left hanging.”</p> <p>Robert explained that he thought the bottle would sell for over US$20,000 but "the sauce is still here".</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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