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Mom Who Declared War on Germs at Fast-Food Places Gets Banned From McDonald’s
Isn't McDonald's insistence on banning Carr-Jordan only proving they aren't willing to clean their restaurants properly?
It looks like there is a lot to hide underneath those Golden Arches, and McDonald’s wants it stay that way.
You might remember when child psychologist, Erin Carr-Jordan, 36, of Chandler, Ariz. recently researched fast food joints and their play spaces in eleven different states. The results of what she found set her on a mission. Soon after, Carr-Jordan started a campaign against germs at fast-food establishments around the country.
McDonald’s is obviously threatened.
On Monday, she received a hand-delivered letter, which informed her that she is “prohibited from setting foot in eight McDonald’s restaurants in Gilbert, Chandler and Phoenix.” Furthermore, she will be charged with criminal trespass if she does, reports USA Today:
“It doesn’t mean much to me personally. I’ve gotten positive responses from parents who said, ‘Hey, I’m not banned. Give me swabs.’ ”
Recently, Carr-Jordan found MRSA in a Gilbert, Ariz., restaurant’s PlayPlace and immediately told the manager along with the customers who had children. When she saw one child licking some equipment, it was the last straw, and she asked management to close down the play area.
“I can’t imagine knowing there was MRSA and not doing anything. I make no apologies for what I did.”
Carr-Jordan believes that this particular incident had a lot to do with the letter she received banning her from local McDonald’s restaurants.
Do you think Carr-Jordan had a right to inform customers about the MRSA? Should McDonald’s have the right to ban her? Or are they simply hiding?
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10 Comments
Jill S commented on Oct 28 11 at 12:38 pmWhile I think she has a good point about the cleaning policy- I think McD’s has every right to bann her. Who knows how loud, abrassive or ‘go getter’ kind of attitude she has while there. If other patrons have complained about her the have every right to place a restraining order. And of course they would hand deliver this to her- thats called proper procedure for one who has a restraining order. By the way- yes I think she has the right to let people know about the unsafe cleaning protocols and germs-just not by handing out brochures to those sitting at McD’s trying to enjoy time with their kids. Use the right media outlet- local news, papers and yes even the blog-o-sphere
melissa commented on Oct 28 11 at 1:00 pmwhy isn’t the health department doing more? why aren’t more pediatricians getting behind this? this is a big deal. mrsa can be deadly. i don’t take my child to such places, but what about the kids whose parents don’t know better or don’t care? kids are too little to make informed choices–they need to be protected.
Sara commented on Oct 28 11 at 1:16 pmWhy isn’t the health department doing more?
Because it’s a playground, not a kitchen. I’m sure if you swabbed the playground at the local park it would be much worse as would the shopping cart at your local store. EVERYTHING is filthy. That’s why you wash your hands throughout the day.
bob commented on Oct 28 11 at 2:17 pmAt least the local playground gets rained upon from time to time, and UV from the sun to disinfect.
Christine commented on Oct 28 11 at 6:16 pmJust do what i do and just don’t go to the play area if you are at all concerned. I have a 16 and 14 yr old who never played in there and they are just find. My 4 yr old…..I let him play once about 1 month ago, but I was scared to death about the germs soooo he won’t be going again. It’s disgusting that people just don’t care about keeping things clean.
anon commented on Oct 29 11 at 1:28 pmGood Lord, that is one messed up PR department. Anybody with a brain (and a soul) would have launched a massive “clean up” day and make some big pronouncement about regularly scheduling cleanings and tests. As an aside, we live in an area with bad winters for outdoor play, and during the toddler period, we visited a playland. Once. The smell and appearance were evil. There was no way my daughter was playing in that. We haven’t been inside a McDonalds since, although we’ll stop at a drive through for fries maybe four times a year. Now multiply that times x number of grossed out parents, and translate it into lost orders. Or maybe the chain has decided that once you’re built the playland, the families you attract don’t spend enough to justify any additional expense?
Sara commented on Oct 29 11 at 1:44 pmwhatever happened to “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? some germs are good for the kids to be exposed to. the equipment should obviously be cleaned regularly but we should not strive for a sterile environment
Julie commented on Oct 31 11 at 7:43 pmAmen Sara! This whole protect the children from everything all the time has gotten way out of hand.
anon commented on Nov 01 11 at 4:00 amI’m not sure you know what MSRA is.
Todd Crawford commented on Nov 02 11 at 3:25 pm“Present” is not the same as “Contaminated” or “Exposed”. Did she take any control samples, like from her children’s hands or her hands before she entered the restaurant? Did she test her car, the children’s beds, the soil in her garden? Sorry folks, but there is a reason for following scientific methods – taking a few swabs is NOT science. And the results she has are not Measurements.
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