By XAVIER SMERDON
A PATRON at a Werribee fast food restaurant claims he was yelled at and humiliated in front of other customers after complaining about flies on the food.
Rick DiGenova visited the McDonald’s on Synott St in Werribee on Tuesday 20 September when he noticed flies on the cakes and muffins in the McCafé section.
Mr DiGenova said he complained to staff but after they tried unsuccessfully to remove the flies, the food was left sitting in the cabinet for up to 50 minutes.
The disgruntled customer then rang McDonald’s head office and complained about the matter, after which a staff member began to throw the food away.
According to Mr DiGenova, another staff member then intervened and told the staff member not to throw the cakes away because it was wasting food.
Mr DiGenova claimed that after he complained again to the staff member he was told to “get lost” and asked “don’t you have anything better to do?”
He said he felt humiliated in the busy restaurant.
“It’s a disgrace,” Mr DiGenova said.
“I was appalled that the food wasn’t thrown out immediately. They’re a billion dollar company and they’re worried about a lousy cabinet filled with $30 worth of cakes.”
A spokesperson from McDonalds did not comment about the alleged treatment of Mr DiGenova but claimed that the contaminated food was thrown away.
“Upon being notified by the customer, food was no longer served from the cabinet. It was then disposed of and the cabinet was cleaned,” the spokesperson said.
“We have stringent systems and processes in place to ensure that our food is of consistently high quality to be enjoyed by the 1.5 million Australian customers who eat with us every day.”
The spokesperson said that the company would follow up the allegations of verbal abuse with the restaurant staff.
