McDonald’s Responds After Customer Finds Cigarette Inside Child’s Meal Box

A deeply alarming incident has come to notice on social media when a customer who ordered a McDonald’s “Minicraft” meal for her niece from the McDonald’s outlet reportedly discovered a cigarette inside the meal box. The incident was brought to light through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

The customer tagged @McDonaldsIndia, @fssaiindia, @zomato, and @deepigoyal, urging immediate action for the dangerous incident

The customer posted a screenshot of a LinkedIn post where she complained about the shocking incident where a cigarette was found in a meal box ordered for a child from McDonald’s Bannerghatta Road at Bengaluru, through Zomato.

Twitter

The customer also mentioned that this isn’t just an act of negligence, it’s an insensitive violation of food safety standards and a complete failure of quality control. She also stated her concern about the fact that what if the child had unknowingly consumed or handled it.

Twitter

She also mentioned that Global brands must be held accountable, specifically when children’s health is at stake.

We also believe that this incident could have grave consequences and could have been severe.

The user asked the responsible restaurant and the food delivery app to take urgent action on the matter, her tweet read,

Ordered a Minicraft meal for my niece from McDonald’s Banerghhata road, Bangalore – found a cigarette inside the box.
This is beyond shocking and dangerous!
@McDonaldsIndia @fssaiindia @zomato @deepigoyal
please take urgent action.
#FoodSafety #McDonaldsIndia

Ordered a Minicraft meal for my niece from McDonald’s Banerghhata road, Bangalore – found a cigarette inside the box.
This is beyond shocking and dangerous!@McDonaldsIndia @fssaiindia @zomato @deepigoyal please take urgent action.#FoodSafety #McDonaldsIndia pic.twitter.com/S0BC911z3J

— ಇಂದು ಏನು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ (@Whatstoday_KA) May 23, 2025

Zomato and McDonald’s both took notice of the post and responded to it

McDonald’s replied by asking for the customer’s contact number, invoice details, and the store’s precise location to assist further.

Hi! We’d like to get this checked. Please help us with your contact number, invoice details, and the store’s precise location so we can assist you further.

Hi! We’d like to get this checked. Please help us with your contact number, invoice details, and the store’s precise location so we can assist you further. https://t.co/EnXzZR8hR6

— McDonald’s India (@mcdonaldsindia) May 24, 2025

Zomato took to X and replied,

This is deeply concerning, and we want to get to the bottom of it. Please DM us your order ID so we can raise this with the restaurant immediately.

This is deeply concerning, and we want to get to the bottom of it. Please DM us your order ID so we can raise this with the restaurant immediately. https://t.co/jcTFuGSv2G

— Zomato Care (@zomatocare) May 24, 2025

The post is drawing attention to the shocking lapse in food safety and hygiene. A user reacted to the post saying,

There will be No accountability by these companies. They will only say we won’t let this happen again and this will happen again n again n again. You should file a case on both zomato and Mcdonalds

— Deepa (@Deepaprem2809) May 24, 2025

msn

Food quality control in fast-food chains needs stricter regulatory supervision. The customers have the right to call for a thorough investigation and accountability. Consumers are urged to remain alert and report any unsafe food experiences immediately to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

What are your opinions on this shocking incident? Let us know in the comments.