yuck. although i see the importance of promoting physical activity(obviously), ive always thought the play area things at McDonalds should just be removed. they are just gross and smell bad. even as a small child i would never go in those
I should have added in my last comment that while I was at a McD's last year with my nephew (3) and two nieces (4 and 8), I had the lovely opportunity of walking into the bathroom with the 4-year-old and discovering a very strung-out drug-addict, who, having injected herself with who-knows-what, began sliding her way under the door. A quick call to 9-11 brought over an ambulance for her. Side-note: all three stalls were out of toilet paper, and no one knew where the key was to the tp-safe.
So disgusting - Ron Endelman's blog sent me here - all of my "wonderful" childhood memories with siblings is finally put into proper perspective: filthy, fecal-filled fun (pardon the alliteration)!
McDonalds has responded to their unsanitary conditions by banning the messenger from McDonalds. More people should video record the filth at McDonalds and post it online here and Face Book. Force McDonalds to ban more people from their filthy establishments. I haven't been to McDonalds in 25 years, since high school when I worked there for ONE day before walking out in disgust at the unsanitary food prep areas and dining area. They can't ban me since I never go. F-off McDonalds! ...Pass it on :)
eeewwww. I can imagine these places are hard to clean. Disgusting! I couldn't watch the rest. I am sure like the Doctor said, its everywhere and I' am double sure not just McDonald's. Best thing to do is redesign these structures so they can be cleaned properly and in the mean time keep your kids off them. Disgusting! thank goodness I play the bad dad and don't take the kids to these fast food places. Thank you for posting this video Doctor. I hope it will wake some people up.
I would think any area where people congregate has the potential of being a hot bed of infection? The grocery kart, school playground, school bus, any public bathroom. The list is endless. Good luck trying to sanitize the world, one McDonalds at a time. I'm curious? Why the crusade against McDonalds, when there is fungus among us every day?
I will never let my son eat there and he is 3 but already says mc donalds is gross. The food is worse then eating off the floor . the people that eat there are in need of some education.
I always suspected it. Great job proving it!!! THANK YOU!! And as for them not wanting to clean it.....I'm not surprised....they would have to PAY someone to do it. The McDonalds here uses the play place as a storage unit as well. It look awful and certainly doesn't seem safe. Not to mention tacky. THANK YOU again for your work in trying to make it clean and safe.
Government regulation isn't going to make them clean up the play structures, people like you and other concerned parents joining together to make them put a cleaning schedule in can! If you keep posting videos like these, they will inevidibly be forced to clean them because of all the bad PR....but like I said, the Fed or State government making a law doesn't mean that they are going to clean them! Good Luck, I do truely hope you succeed!
It is not easy to clean the playground, especially if you have those curvy plastic tubes and slides! It is difficult for an adult to get inside.
In order to be cleaned properly they have to be dismantled and cleaned in a special place with detergent and hot water. This is expensive and the franchise is reluctant to go in such expenses.
The best practical solution for parents - do not go there!
"I support Crips". Seeing as how this was written inside of a McDonald's playplace, I am incredibly intimidated. Thanks a lot, I won't be able to sleep tonight.
These places should be warned Nationwide to clean up NOW... If they do not then they should be fined and the structure should be TORN DOWN.. I have been in them myself. .They smell very bad
McDonalds has made it overtly aware that they specifically and exclusively will cater to blacks ("360Black") and black culture. Therefore, it is no place Whites belong let alone with children, and the filth is atypical of places with a majority of nonwhites as workers.
I applaud your effort, but it is similar to going to Africa and complaining that there's disease, rape, and warfare. Its par for the course in Africa and fecal matter, gang graffiti, and disease is par for the course in fast food
Thank you for posting these videos. I just seen the news article on Yahoo. I rarely let my 3 year old daughter play at restaurant play areas because they gross me out. (I'm a germaphobe). Plus, I definitely don't want my daughter sick. I am SO SHOCKED on how disgusting these popular places were, AND the fact that the managers haven't done anything to correct these conditions. These are our children that are in danger! I signed your petition and I hope everyone will do the same!!!!!
Saw you on the news. It's great. But You don't want your kids eating that crap there. It is bad for you. The food is as healthy as the bathroom floor.
They can lie all they want about caring about cleanliness but the proof is in the video, their refusal to clean the play area & for their attempts to punish Dr. CJ for exposing them.
Hurrah for Dr. Carr-Jordan, a courageous hero. Banned from MacDonalds? Nobody would suffer from not eating their fast food crap & the children are far better off not going to that filthy place to play. What Dr. CJ discovered is appalling & disgusting. McDonalds should be ashamed of themselves, for what they did to Dr. CJ & for not immediately cleaning up their act...
i Wish it could be done easily but some play areas are not so ventilated thus if they wanted to remove the the bacteria it could have fumes that can harm the cleaner and children who play in them. so might even have allergic reactions if they touch left over particles. I agree with her statement all I'm saying is that it wouldn't be easy to clean with so much as a hose. I actually think they should get rid of the play grounds ,
i know where ur coming from. i work 4 a major supplier 4 mcdonalds. my employer demoded me 2 a low paying job in retaliation 4 refusing 2 commit fraud. i refuse 2 initial tasks that i have not completed on a sanitation checklist. a checklist that is impossible 2 complete in an 8 hr shift in some areas. this is wrong 2 our customers. we need more whistleblowers like u. U GO GIRL!!!
I don't let my children play in these places bc of how disgustingly dirty they are. Glad someone finally spoke up. I would just simply avoid the place. Hope things will get done now.... thanx :)
Hello, i have seen your recent video of filming what you have seen at McDonalds. Since then i have gone to local mcdonalds around my area and i have found the same results. I do not have kids, i just went there to see after what i have seen in your video. It was the same food everywhere. There was vomit on the slide. dirt just everywhere.I told the manager, and he said that it was up to the parents to clean and to have discretion as if you want your kids in the play area or not.
I seen your article in the Arizona Republic. I am a Gilbert Resident. I will support you and placed it on my face book. Will be writing my city, county and state government
Thank you for this. People look at me weird when I do not let me daughter's play in the play yards. My kids are 8 and 9 and its RARE they get to do it. When I worked for Peter Piper Pizza years ago the managers would make sure the play areas were cleaned in the afternoon and before closing time. Its one of the only places I let me kids play though we rarely go there either. Its just nasty at McDonalds.
I almost threw up on my keyboard. My kid actually asked to go to McDonalds Playland today. I Googled the McDonalds in my area to find one with a playland to take her to. In doing so, luckily I came across the article in the Chicago Tribune. I didn't take her after reading that. Thank you.
I of course can't speak for the restaurant where this was filmed or for the other thousands of stores with a play place. I can however speak for my store in a positive manner. We have a daily, weekly and monthly cleaning and sanitizing schedule that we follow very strictly. We even have a professional service who comes bi-monthly to steam clean and repair any harmful surfaces to the structure. Maybe this store needs to follow our protocol instead of what they currently have...or don't?
Though I think this is great exposure and corporations should be responsible for safety in these locations, the bigger issue is whether or not anyone should be frequenting these establishments at all if they are concerned about health. Especially for children.
Well done! I saw you on MSN and so appreciate you doing this and getting the word out. I own an indoor inflatable play center and we are very focused on cleanliness purely because our kids can not afford to be exposed to these diseases. I am also one of "those moms" that doesnt like to take my kids to play lands since they are so dirty and disgusting. If you are in the Seattle area please contact me. I would love to have you come visit and give any cleaning tips we may have missed.
May as well add in those disgusting playgrounds at the malls on to the list to sanitize.. They are filthy as well. Kids are filthy too. They never wash their hands unless their parents nag at them. They cough with the mouthes uncovered, and touch everything with their hands, so, wherever kids go, there go the germs. The McDonald's that you have shown is above and beyond that germ level though. It's filthy, and I found the video repulsive. how did you keep from vomiting?
Though I fully understand where you're coming from (especially seeing the state of the particular Playplace you visited), there are is one point I have to make as a fast food worker that others haven't.
It seems unreasonable to ask the workers to clean as often as you would like. From experience, I can tell you that it takes several hours from several employees (mainly teens) to even start cleaning a Playplace, working at minimum wage in very cramped quarters.
that is the most disgusting play area I have ever seen! Luckily, at our neighborhood McDonald's they keep it clean. If notified of anything sticky or runny or dirty in the play structure they actually shut down the whole play land until its sanitized. I know that we are lucky. As I understand, most McD's are franchises and the owners have a huge role on how they maintain the place.
Ok, I can understand now why this lady would be upset. At 1st, I thought she was 1 of those germ nazi's who would never allow their child 2 play in dirt, but after seeing that video, wow! That is 1 messed up place & I am not the cleanest mom w/ my kids, so it says a lot when I say not even I would allow my kids 2 play in that filth. However, not all Playlands are like this. The 1 where my kids play is never cleaned, but it doesn't look this bad b/c the parents teach their kids 2 keep it clean.
As a vegan I rarely get anything from McDonald's except for a salad. I think I'll swear off fast food "joints" permanently. You'll get some blah-blah response from McDonald's and Burger King on this - too little too late.
I just watched this and posted it onto my FB wall, and posted the link onto Atlanta's 11 Alive FB page as well. EVERY parent/grandparent needs to see this and then decide if/how to take action. Way to go Mom!! You have done a GREAT thing for not only your children, but potentially for millions whose parents will also take action! Kudos to you!!!
Go Doctor EC Jordan, you have my vote for Attorney General after teaching 29 years in the places where children are around hundreds and mothers are fighting against violence alone thinking the children are a shield. ... Mothers are guilty as well some have two abusers from birth and they become artists because nothing else fits
Saw this mornings segment on Good Morning America, and appreciate your bringing this hidden epidemic to the forefront. Ironically, I was with my son and his cousins at a local McDonalds, and found the mens room to be infested with fleas. This McD also had the PlayPlace, and question its cleanliness based on what I found in the Mens room. I have posed a video on my page called "Infested Mickey d's" and encourage you to view it. Best, AmoskeagTV
Just read the article in today's Sunday Detroit Free Press and delighted in that it confirmed my stance on all of these structures. My husband has taken pleasure in accusing me of depriving my children of "good ole fun" as I have never allowed them to play in, what I have always referred to as 'lice-pits'. It was disturbing to find that there were much more dangerous threats to be worried about. Thank you for posting this!
As someone with Crohn's Disease who has suffered tremendously, I think it is absolutely critical that we let children play in dirt and not shelter them excessively from germs, so when I first visited this video, I thought it would be along the same lines as people who go to the tropics and take great offense when their hotel rooms aren't absolutely sterile. That being said, this playland does look excessively filthy, and certainly unmaintained to any degree, as evidenced by the graffiti.
Parent should really stop taking their kids to these "restaurants" period. Your SOLE purpose as a parent is to provide your child with: A. Quality sustenance, B. Love and nurture, C: A safe, sanitary environment. These three things are all you have to do as a parent, yet you are brainwashed into thinking that you have to get a job in order to be able to pay to take them to a place like McDonalds. Instead, you buy your kids mystery food, throw them in a plastic jungle, and whine about sanitation.
If you are upset about how clean or unclean these playlands are dont take you children there.. get your food and take them to a park. Where there are less chances of things for them to get into.
I would just ask two questions for you. First of all, what lab did you use to conduct the testing on the samples you obtained at these establishments.
The second question I would ask is whether or not these are actually corporate owned facilities or franchised establishments? If it is a problem with a franchised establishment your issue may be more with the management at the franchise level and not the corporate level.
I am lucky that our McDonald's regularly cleans their playland. If I complain about something, they clean it right then and there. But they also pay bi weekly to have the place detailed and it is SPOTLESS when they are done! I've been inside of it, too, so I know it isn't filthy. This McD's she showed is just disgusting. I would be ashamed to be the manager and admit I let it stay that filthy.
the truth of the matter is, i never licked the playplace as a kid.. nor did i eat any food i might have found.. nor did i understand what was written on the walls..
i never got super-sick. besides the yearly flu, i was fine. so were all my nieces and nephews and siblings.. and we were living in nyc.. going to mc'donalds and roy rogers and playing the playplaces for at least an hour. but we didn't go more than twice a year max. parents weren't keen on outside food to begin with.
Man please. Besides the fact that I'm SO not interested in having my 5 year old son crawl through your sons poop and throw-up, I do NOT want him reading swear words in a place that he should be having care-free fun. Yeah, yeah, I know.. "Take your kid somewhere else..." No worries. I will. and am.
I personally know one family who eat lunch and dinner at McDonalds and let their kids play in the play place after they finish their meals. I haven't heard of them getting sick, but now that I see this, I am surprised they haven't.
There is another McDonalds around my area and it smells like sewage all the time. They have had many complaints and have done nothing about that and it surprises me. I know many people who won't go there for that reason.
I use to work at McDonalds and can personally say that we never did clean the play area. They was one time when a child threw up and they just mopped up the area and said that it was clean enough for kids to play in again. I have to say that I am surprised that their aren't more cases where children get sick because some of the people that I use to serve at McDonalds were there with their kids everyday or sometimes 2 and 3 times a day.
This lady isn't lying one bit. Some of these fast food restaurants in Arizona are just plain disgusting. She is just picking on the playlands. The bathrooms in some of these places are the worst places on earth. The management and employees just don't give a damn how they look. When I go into one of these place and it isn't up to standards I walk out and go some place else. Tucson has a Burger King on Golf Links and Kolbs that smells like sewage all the time.
The difference between these and outdoor playgrounds is that the rain and sun help to santitize the equipment. These aren't exposed to weather. They sit and breed bacteria. I stupidly let my oldest go into one of these when he was three and the next day he had the worst GI virus he had ever (even now) had. None of my kids are allowed in these. I don't want to risk exposing my children to ANY strain ofmeningitis.
@zena124 some mc'donalds play places are outdoor. idk.. i never got sick. and i had a horrible immune system as a kid.. truth of the matter is, if u see a place is filthy, leave. if u see a place is clean, stay. my family hated taking us to mcdonalds/royrogers/etc.. as kids. it was a once a year, and if we were lucky, twice a year thing. it was an "event" for us. never a pit stop.
personally. there are plenty of places i'd never step foot in cuz of bad experiences. i guess we all pick&choose.
When I was younger I found trash all over the playland! Most of the locations in my area that used to have playlands are now gone! For some reason.When I become a mom my kids are gonna play in a legit playground the kind that's outside in a park and not this mess!!
Also, this is not just at McDonalds, this could be anywhere that has heavy public traffic. A handrail at a public park is probably just as dirty, if not dirtier, yet no one makes a big fuss over that. Is it because you can't see the dirt and germs?
So why would they take to the time to clean out a play area? We all know they should, but they don't--also you have to factor in some of the children that play there, are who aren't bathed on a regular basis, are sick, or aren't taught proper hygiene.
Ok am I the only one who was not that surprised by this video? I mean, your average McDonald's--not all, but I'd say most, have employees who don't take the time to wash their hands after using the restroom, scratch their face/nose/ears/hair while handling your food, below average kept restrooms, and who knows what else is going on behind closed doors....................
Just saying, you could have taken the video in HD to show the filth n stuff in the playplace better. But congratulations, your vid and story got featured in Gizmodo! Also, you look pretty hot to be a mother of 4, not to be taken from a perverted point of view or anything. MILF
If you are so concerned about your kids health first why are you eating at Mcdonalds and second why dont you clean it, spend a little lass time moaning and more time doing.
Why is it always someone else's job? If you see a empty coke can on the path do you pick it up and put it in the bin or phone someone to complain?
@susielayhe while we were not there to eat (as was indicated in the video), thousands of kids do go there every day. Just because parents choose to feed their kids fast food every once in a while doesn't mean they should be condemned or that the conditions in which they play should be any less safe.
Hi DrECJordan. I work at a Lego Brand Retail store.[Disclaimer I don't speak on behalf of the company] Just would like to let you know that our stores are very clean, and we clean nightly. If you were to find a problem with the cleanliness of our business we would listen and act, but I am pretty confident in saying that you or no other parent would need to do so at any of our locations. :) I recommend the drive-thru, eating, and then coming to a Lego store!
You think it's a good thing that itty bitty kids just learning how to read should be up there sounding that word out? Is it really such a good idea to speed their interest in profanity and gang affiliation? I assume the answer is yes. So I have to say I think you're a pretty crummy person and I hope you don't plan to have children.
@DrECJordan Not only is it being repeatedly ignored, they are trying to say, in every state I go and to every reporter who calls (on the record), that it is an isolated incident. I actually tape recorded my original complaint as well as my follow-up. I also have gotten copies of emails that other parents have sent. Bottom line, there is no comprehensive corp policy related to sanitization and disinfection.
I notice that apart from a quick shot of a couple of tables, there's not much detail shown. I would be concerned that you correlate "coliform" with faecal contamination. There is a class of faecal coliforms, but they are fairly specific. Coliforms themselves are ubiquitous in the environment. Would you be willing to post a link to the original paper so we can look at the evidence ourselves?
I'm a Health Inspector, but a parent too and also have concerns about these sorts of facilities.
HEY LADY GUESS WHAT, an Honorary PHD from Compton Community College does not make you a "Dr". You go to McDonalds for dirt cheap prices, do not expect 5 starts conditions.
People who don't agree with what's being done here should keep their opinions to themselves. Ask yourself what you have done to benefit society lately instead of picking on people who only want to help others.
@AgentHaun I dont have thousands but I have dozens of parents who write to me and the reported with whom I have interviewed all over the country talking about how their child contracted impetigo, pink eye, a severe GI infection, viral meningitis, hand foot and mouth disease, and the list goes on and on. All of these were traced back to an indoor playland.
@AgentHaun Sorry, but "potentially dangerous" doesn't come off as a "your kids will die" scare tactic. It's a very real warning. As a side note, if older kids are able to get in there are take time to graffiti (like the large "FREDDY" that seems like it may have taken an hour to color in), what else can these older kids be doing in there?
Gross, but that's how I built up my immune system as a child. I'm only sick (with flu etc) once every few years - I suspect because my mum wasn't a germ nazi. Which isn't to say shit in the mcdonald's playplace isn't nasty, but ya know....just sayin.
@AgentHaun Kids don't build up immunities to pathogens. Yes, kids should get dirty, have fun, and be exposed to germs but this is something totally different.
@DrECJordan I ask again - where are all the dead kid reports? The playplaces should be littered with corpses by now....and yes there may be a few real cases of deadly illness borne in these, but still, the way you put it dead kids should be commonplace among all those who venture into these playplaces. I call Attention whoring and scare tactics to a degree. Prove me otherwise.
Who cares what the third world has to put up with. If it were your kid, would you consciously let him or her play in am open sewer (which is these playgrounds are with fecal contamination)? If you have kids and would let them do so, do you mind if any of us contact CPS and give them your name?
When you have a Doctorate, you should know that it's better to let children play in places where there occur some bacteria and germs otherwise they are more prone to get autoimmune diseases, which are far more dangerous than some fecal matter. By the way, do you now that approximately 1 out of 8 persons have fecal matter under their shoes, so everyone unite, together we can get shoes banned!
so many children eat their food,grab their drink then go to bathroom with out washing their hands then go grab their food again then they go touch everything in the slide then they grab their food again then go back in the slide. it is impossible for a Mcdonalds worker to babysit every kid that goes in there and also how how often are parks in local playgrouds and schools sanitized? you might want to check those out also because schools get alot of traffic than a mcdonalds
@danielg623 - I do so agree with you. Seriously, if a parent doesn't want to run into this, keep your kids at home. But let me tell you, if you think that this is ONLY playplaces, don't ever take your kid to an outside playground. For heaven's sake, this woman is a scaremonger. We don't need more government regulation. Trust me, if parents stop taking their kids to these, fast food places will eliminate them.
I've raised four kids that went to these and never got sick.
@danielg623 I dont expect for them to have their workers disinfect these areas. It is ridiculously inexpensive for them to hire a company to come in twice a month to disinfect and have the workers or a special crew sanitize nightly. There are places who care about kids health all over the country who already have this type of policy in place and it doesn't seem to be an inconvenience.
@DrECJordan yea but it will take more than wiping it down with sanitzer to disinfect all the stuff in there. You would have to tear the play park down to disinfect every germ! it is impossible to make these parks 100% germ free and even tearing it down still would not do the job. you should do a lab test in rides at amusement parks like Disneyland I bet you will even find flaws in theirs but do they have en excuse? they have about 200 million people a year visit their establisment.
Thank you so much for posting this video. This is absolutely disgusting and unexeptable! More cases of illness in children occuring after playing in these playgrounds should be reported and hopefully force (lawsuit?) these fastfood places to have regulations of their playgrounds. One would think this is normal common sense!!!!!! Do we dare to eat their food? looking at the hygene kept in the playground it is a scary thought to bite into any of their menues!!!!!
Check out this list of businesses who are pro children's health. They either shared this as an email with the parents/staff in their network, posted it on their web page, or as their FB status: Cardon's Children's Hospital, SWIMkids USA, City of Chandler, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Aqua Tots, Awakening Seed School, Gold Medal Gymnastics, Desert Devils Gymnastics, Kaplan University, Chic-fil-a, Gold Medal Swim School, Play Factory, Toy Town, Ondre International
buy your kid an xbox 360 if you want him to become overweight and have fun at the same time, don't take him to the McD's with a playplace!!!!
Your kids don't deserve the right to a playplace in FatFood restaurants, regulation isn't necessary for that which should cease to exist. God forbid all you broke back parents cough up enough cash to buy a bicycle for your fat kid to ride at your X-Spouse,
Cleaning them can be incredibly difficult, I'm in shape and don't eat that filth, but many of my coworkers are physically incapable of maneuvering those playplaces.
Spoiled-Brat-Entitled America better start tipping me if they want me scrubbing a Rainbow Colored International Space Station with a toothbrush
2/3 of this country are overweight pigs, that means only 1/3 of Americans can physically clean a playplace
PlayPlaces stand for UNSUSTAINABILITY and should be OUTLAWED
In addition, as informative as this video is, the fact that there are no federal regulations in place means that it is ultimately up to parents to make good 'parenting' decisions and not let their children play on these structures. I feel as if Americans complain so much about over-regulation by the government, but when it comes to basic decisions over personal life choices (called parenting,) they want additional regulations. Mom, you seem smart enough, focus on targeting other parents.
With all due respect, I appreciate you bringing this to other parents attention....However, considering how bad McDonalds food is for you and yours, are you the least bit surprised this is what their 'playplace' looks like? McDonalds is probably the last place a child needs to be eating, let alone playing at.
@honeyjade0688 so true. In addition, as informative as this video is, the fact that there are no federal regulations in place means that it is ultimately up to parents to make good 'parenting' decisions and not let their children play on these structures. I feel as if Americans complain so much about over-regulation by the government, but when it comes to basic decisions over personal life choices (called parenting,) they want additional regulations. Mom, you seem smart enough, but grow a brain
@ecarpenter27 Im definitely not trying to tell people how to parent, thats not me. Personally though, I know what McDonalds food can do to my children. However, Im grateful this video came out, so other parents can see that Mcdonalds is harming you&your family through more than just the "food" they serve there.
It would be really great if the corporations would take responsibility for their facilities. We don't need more government regulation. We as parents need to evaluate places we take our families. These structures are a large cost to the local stores, and are designed to attract more business. If, through knowledge, parents realize that these structures are not a good place to take our family, it will affect the businesses bottom line. that is when they will start to take corrective action
@dewutube Unfortunately, without regulation in place, most are not proactive and children are at risk. There are regulations related to child care and regulations related to food establishments but there is a gap in between. I don't think that the gov't needs to be involved in most things related to private business. Children's health, however, is one place where I believe regulation should exist.
It is interesting that I got great response to a complaint I made about my local McDs. My children had gone in to order while I made a business phone call in the car. They came back out with no food saying that the employees were all screaming at each other and being rude to the customers in line in front of them, so they didn't want to eat there. We made a detailed complaint to HQ about this, and there was great follow-through. Yet your very serious complaint is ignored???
I really like the new video. It is very clear and concise on the problem that all of us, parents, have ignored. Someone posted that you shouldn't go back to the McDonald's, the problem isn't with just that facility. This is a global problem at any restaurant offering a play structure for children. I would think most parents would think that at ANY restaurants would clean the tables, floors,and bathrooms. Why would we think the Play land wouldn't?
@Je1717y Great question. You can call the corporate HQ's of these types of places and ask what their corporate policy is. If they aren't able to tell you, it is probably because they don't have one. If that is the case, complain. You can also contact you local legislature and urge them to sponsor/support legislation related to regulation of playlands.
Thank you for the excellent video. As a person who works and owns a business in Early CCHildhood Education, which is highly regulated, I have to say I am absolutely appalled that there is no action that can be taken to correct this. I am not surprised,as this seems to have been going on for some time and while I try to avoid these situations with my own children, we do need to have some avenue to either control or eliminate these types of situations.
Very well done video. I appreciate the fact that there was evidence supporting your claims and I hope someone sees this and realizes that something needs to be done. I shared this on my FB to help spread the word.
Eating that gruel will kill you faster than any of the germs there... I agree with you Ive complained before also and alls they do is pass the buck and blame somebody else... One even told me the play area is run by a different entity....
Oh my goodness! I reposted to Facebook & Twitter. Maybe, if we can get to the court of public opinion, McDonald's Corporate might intervene. This is disgusting.
Your concerns are most appreciated, and thanks for speaking out. On a related issue with McDonalds, there has been an effort to blame the company for selling junk food. This has been going on since 2002. Also, in May of 2010 the National Employment figures where 50% employed by McDonalds. So do go forth, but remember it is hard to fight the temptation, for so many, getting the $1 meal. We as individuals have a choice, and unfortunately McDonalds is still making a very good profit. Keep Care
When my daughter was younger she was playing in one of these play structures and couldn't find her way out. She began crying and I had to go in after her. In order to get her I had to cross over puddles of urine!
Thank you for bringing these unsanitary and unsafe conditions to the public's attention.
So many of us are ignorantly blissful until we find out firsthand about that revolting muck, and then try to wash it off your firsthand!
I had a similar experience at a McDonald's.
A clinical analysis - I heartily applaud the extent of your outrage!
My own complaint was met with an annoyingly dispassionate response.
You've done well. It's great exposure of a very real problem, and until folks with official titles get in McDonald's faces about it it won't be addressed.
I truely believe in what you are doing. You are really going to change the world with this information. I really hope that legistation is passed that prevents these corporations from endangering our children.
yuck. although i see the importance of promoting physical activity(obviously), ive always thought the play area things at McDonalds should just be removed. they are just gross and smell bad. even as a small child i would never go in those
jessssheheh 1 month ago
I should have added in my last comment that while I was at a McD's last year with my nephew (3) and two nieces (4 and 8), I had the lovely opportunity of walking into the bathroom with the 4-year-old and discovering a very strung-out drug-addict, who, having injected herself with who-knows-what, began sliding her way under the door. A quick call to 9-11 brought over an ambulance for her. Side-note: all three stalls were out of toilet paper, and no one knew where the key was to the tp-safe.
losprophet 1 month ago
So disgusting - Ron Endelman's blog sent me here - all of my "wonderful" childhood memories with siblings is finally put into proper perspective: filthy, fecal-filled fun (pardon the alliteration)!
losprophet 1 month ago
McDonalds has responded to their unsanitary conditions by banning the messenger from McDonalds. More people should video record the filth at McDonalds and post it online here and Face Book. Force McDonalds to ban more people from their filthy establishments. I haven't been to McDonalds in 25 years, since high school when I worked there for ONE day before walking out in disgust at the unsanitary food prep areas and dining area. They can't ban me since I never go. F-off McDonalds! ...Pass it on :)
pickmynoseyum 3 months ago
thats so disgusting they should be cleaning these areas every night
1093Deanna 3 months ago
eeewwww. I can imagine these places are hard to clean. Disgusting! I couldn't watch the rest. I am sure like the Doctor said, its everywhere and I' am double sure not just McDonald's. Best thing to do is redesign these structures so they can be cleaned properly and in the mean time keep your kids off them. Disgusting! thank goodness I play the bad dad and don't take the kids to these fast food places. Thank you for posting this video Doctor. I hope it will wake some people up.
julri1 4 months ago
I think all McDonalds should be boycotted until they do right.
How many children have become sick and spread their illness to friends and family?
Another case where the customer in punished.
Mom gets banned from McDonald's after battling against bacteria.
MichaelLeeKribbs 4 months ago
I would think any area where people congregate has the potential of being a hot bed of infection? The grocery kart, school playground, school bus, any public bathroom. The list is endless. Good luck trying to sanitize the world, one McDonalds at a time. I'm curious? Why the crusade against McDonalds, when there is fungus among us every day?
TheMoleshire 4 months ago
I will never let my son eat there and he is 3 but already says mc donalds is gross. The food is worse then eating off the floor . the people that eat there are in need of some education.
agonicole 4 months ago
ookay you are worried about the playset but not about how bad the food is? Really what do you expect?
agonicole 4 months ago
I always suspected it. Great job proving it!!! THANK YOU!! And as for them not wanting to clean it.....I'm not surprised....they would have to PAY someone to do it. The McDonalds here uses the play place as a storage unit as well. It look awful and certainly doesn't seem safe. Not to mention tacky. THANK YOU again for your work in trying to make it clean and safe.
yourmaam11 4 months ago
THANK YOU!
MrFallior 4 months ago
Government regulation isn't going to make them clean up the play structures, people like you and other concerned parents joining together to make them put a cleaning schedule in can! If you keep posting videos like these, they will inevidibly be forced to clean them because of all the bad PR....but like I said, the Fed or State government making a law doesn't mean that they are going to clean them! Good Luck, I do truely hope you succeed!
Krazykid163 4 months ago
It is not easy to clean the playground, especially if you have those curvy plastic tubes and slides! It is difficult for an adult to get inside.
In order to be cleaned properly they have to be dismantled and cleaned in a special place with detergent and hot water. This is expensive and the franchise is reluctant to go in such expenses.
The best practical solution for parents - do not go there!
zahari20 4 months ago
Filthy conditions and crap food. But hey, it's fast so let's just feed it to our kids. Third World standards for America.
SilentHunter658 4 months ago
"I support Crips". Seeing as how this was written inside of a McDonald's playplace, I am incredibly intimidated. Thanks a lot, I won't be able to sleep tonight.
DrWatsonPostmortem 4 months ago
These places should be warned Nationwide to clean up NOW... If they do not then they should be fined and the structure should be TORN DOWN.. I have been in them myself. .They smell very bad
GamerzArmy 4 months ago
McDonalds has made it overtly aware that they specifically and exclusively will cater to blacks ("360Black") and black culture. Therefore, it is no place Whites belong let alone with children, and the filth is atypical of places with a majority of nonwhites as workers.
I applaud your effort, but it is similar to going to Africa and complaining that there's disease, rape, and warfare. Its par for the course in Africa and fecal matter, gang graffiti, and disease is par for the course in fast food
Catalysis24 4 months ago
Thank you for posting these videos. I just seen the news article on Yahoo. I rarely let my 3 year old daughter play at restaurant play areas because they gross me out. (I'm a germaphobe). Plus, I definitely don't want my daughter sick. I am SO SHOCKED on how disgusting these popular places were, AND the fact that the managers haven't done anything to correct these conditions. These are our children that are in danger! I signed your petition and I hope everyone will do the same!!!!!
msmallory06 4 months ago
I am posting this to my facebook.
ABereanHomeschool 4 months ago
Saw you on the news. It's great. But You don't want your kids eating that crap there. It is bad for you. The food is as healthy as the bathroom floor.
JoelB3783 4 months ago 2
Comment removed
ABereanHomeschool 4 months ago
They can lie all they want about caring about cleanliness but the proof is in the video, their refusal to clean the play area & for their attempts to punish Dr. CJ for exposing them.
babyboomer1001 4 months ago
Hurrah for Dr. Carr-Jordan, a courageous hero. Banned from MacDonalds? Nobody would suffer from not eating their fast food crap & the children are far better off not going to that filthy place to play. What Dr. CJ discovered is appalling & disgusting. McDonalds should be ashamed of themselves, for what they did to Dr. CJ & for not immediately cleaning up their act...
babyboomer1001 4 months ago 2
i Wish it could be done easily but some play areas are not so ventilated thus if they wanted to remove the the bacteria it could have fumes that can harm the cleaner and children who play in them. so might even have allergic reactions if they touch left over particles. I agree with her statement all I'm saying is that it wouldn't be easy to clean with so much as a hose. I actually think they should get rid of the play grounds ,
mibevan 4 months ago
no matter what they do 2 u, never give up! ur cause is noble. i fully support u.
mjt11860 4 months ago
i know where ur coming from. i work 4 a major supplier 4 mcdonalds. my employer demoded me 2 a low paying job in retaliation 4 refusing 2 commit fraud. i refuse 2 initial tasks that i have not completed on a sanitation checklist. a checklist that is impossible 2 complete in an 8 hr shift in some areas. this is wrong 2 our customers. we need more whistleblowers like u. U GO GIRL!!!
mjt11860 4 months ago
I don't let my children play in these places bc of how disgustingly dirty they are. Glad someone finally spoke up. I would just simply avoid the place. Hope things will get done now.... thanx :)
mzjluvz3 4 months ago
Good job Dr. Jordan Your kids should be proud
btw... you are stunning beautiful :P
BADFISHHHHHH 4 months ago
Dr. Jordan is punished for doing the right thing?
I think all McDonalds should be boycotted until they do right.
How many children have become sick and spread their illness to friends and family?
MichaelLeeKribbs 4 months ago
Nasty period!!! Dirty nasty and bad fat food! Hooray for you Dr Carr-Jordan!!
bird1751 4 months ago
Hello, i have seen your recent video of filming what you have seen at McDonalds. Since then i have gone to local mcdonalds around my area and i have found the same results. I do not have kids, i just went there to see after what i have seen in your video. It was the same food everywhere. There was vomit on the slide. dirt just everywhere.I told the manager, and he said that it was up to the parents to clean and to have discretion as if you want your kids in the play area or not.
SHAME SHAME
DrECJordan 4 months ago 5
@DrECJordan sent to me as a message- wow!
DrECJordan 4 months ago
What the article read is that they did not test for pathogens (the only way to verify the report). They were, however, cited for other violations.
DrECJordan 4 months ago
Would you believe that McDonalds actually just banned Dr. Carr-Jordan for her expose?
bjnboy 4 months ago
I find it amusing that since a doctor found and documented this that it finally gets attention. Its been like this for years.
nomadicexplorers 4 months ago 2
They should do away with all of them, everywhere. It's a bad idea, period...but it's a sure fire lure for ignorance and nugget sales.
occupied1111 4 months ago
I seen your article in the Arizona Republic. I am a Gilbert Resident. I will support you and placed it on my face book. Will be writing my city, county and state government
lemansr 4 months ago
Mercy, I was a plumber for years and this disgusts me so much I wouldn't go in.
pvaz1946 4 months ago 2
Where I live they did away with all the Mcdonalds playgrounds. Maybe too many lawsuits?
alb12345672 4 months ago 2
@alb12345672 they should do away with all of them, everywhere. It's a bad idea, period...but it's a sure fire lure for ignorance and nugget sales.
occupied1111 4 months ago
Thank you for this. People look at me weird when I do not let me daughter's play in the play yards. My kids are 8 and 9 and its RARE they get to do it. When I worked for Peter Piper Pizza years ago the managers would make sure the play areas were cleaned in the afternoon and before closing time. Its one of the only places I let me kids play though we rarely go there either. Its just nasty at McDonalds.
chelsburke 4 months ago
I almost threw up on my keyboard. My kid actually asked to go to McDonalds Playland today. I Googled the McDonalds in my area to find one with a playland to take her to. In doing so, luckily I came across the article in the Chicago Tribune. I didn't take her after reading that. Thank you.
shadoehaze 4 months ago
I of course can't speak for the restaurant where this was filmed or for the other thousands of stores with a play place. I can however speak for my store in a positive manner. We have a daily, weekly and monthly cleaning and sanitizing schedule that we follow very strictly. We even have a professional service who comes bi-monthly to steam clean and repair any harmful surfaces to the structure. Maybe this store needs to follow our protocol instead of what they currently have...or don't?
axiacollege 4 months ago
Though I think this is great exposure and corporations should be responsible for safety in these locations, the bigger issue is whether or not anyone should be frequenting these establishments at all if they are concerned about health. Especially for children.
hhb34997 5 months ago
Well done! I saw you on MSN and so appreciate you doing this and getting the word out. I own an indoor inflatable play center and we are very focused on cleanliness purely because our kids can not afford to be exposed to these diseases. I am also one of "those moms" that doesnt like to take my kids to play lands since they are so dirty and disgusting. If you are in the Seattle area please contact me. I would love to have you come visit and give any cleaning tips we may have missed.
meganandhudson 5 months ago
Super MRSA is being bred in the feed lots of America where 80% of antibiotics are being used.
Super MRSA is being spread to American children in McD's or wherever.
This is the price of "cheap" meat.
mageara 5 months ago
Super MRSA being bred at a McDonalds near you.
Lainer1 5 months ago
May as well add in those disgusting playgrounds at the malls on to the list to sanitize.. They are filthy as well. Kids are filthy too. They never wash their hands unless their parents nag at them. They cough with the mouthes uncovered, and touch everything with their hands, so, wherever kids go, there go the germs. The McDonald's that you have shown is above and beyond that germ level though. It's filthy, and I found the video repulsive. how did you keep from vomiting?
Lainer1 5 months ago
Though I fully understand where you're coming from (especially seeing the state of the particular Playplace you visited), there are is one point I have to make as a fast food worker that others haven't.
It seems unreasonable to ask the workers to clean as often as you would like. From experience, I can tell you that it takes several hours from several employees (mainly teens) to even start cleaning a Playplace, working at minimum wage in very cramped quarters.
silveralpaca123 5 months ago
that is the most disgusting play area I have ever seen! Luckily, at our neighborhood McDonald's they keep it clean. If notified of anything sticky or runny or dirty in the play structure they actually shut down the whole play land until its sanitized. I know that we are lucky. As I understand, most McD's are franchises and the owners have a huge role on how they maintain the place.
tinatru 5 months ago
The Mcdonalds here in Colorado have rebuild most of their stores taking out the playgrounds. By the way the Dr is freakin HOT!
snowscum 5 months ago
Ok, I can understand now why this lady would be upset. At 1st, I thought she was 1 of those germ nazi's who would never allow their child 2 play in dirt, but after seeing that video, wow! That is 1 messed up place & I am not the cleanest mom w/ my kids, so it says a lot when I say not even I would allow my kids 2 play in that filth. However, not all Playlands are like this. The 1 where my kids play is never cleaned, but it doesn't look this bad b/c the parents teach their kids 2 keep it clean.
iammetx 5 months ago
As a vegan I rarely get anything from McDonald's except for a salad. I think I'll swear off fast food "joints" permanently. You'll get some blah-blah response from McDonald's and Burger King on this - too little too late.
GreyMidniteMoonlight 5 months ago
31 McDonald's workers disliked this video. BTW, I found this video from the NY Times article "A Mother’s War on Germs at Fast-Food Playlands".
andrewsaccount09 5 months ago 3
I just watched this and posted it onto my FB wall, and posted the link onto Atlanta's 11 Alive FB page as well. EVERY parent/grandparent needs to see this and then decide if/how to take action. Way to go Mom!! You have done a GREAT thing for not only your children, but potentially for millions whose parents will also take action! Kudos to you!!!
elizcc 6 months ago
She shouldn't let her kid play there, The kids can get sick from a dirty worker not washing his or her hands that is worse!
2134733 6 months ago
Go Doctor EC Jordan, you have my vote for Attorney General after teaching 29 years in the places where children are around hundreds and mothers are fighting against violence alone thinking the children are a shield. ... Mothers are guilty as well some have two abusers from birth and they become artists because nothing else fits
TheAnnafisher 6 months ago
Saw this mornings segment on Good Morning America, and appreciate your bringing this hidden epidemic to the forefront. Ironically, I was with my son and his cousins at a local McDonalds, and found the mens room to be infested with fleas. This McD also had the PlayPlace, and question its cleanliness based on what I found in the Mens room. I have posed a video on my page called "Infested Mickey d's" and encourage you to view it. Best, AmoskeagTV
amoskeagTV 6 months ago
Just read the article in today's Sunday Detroit Free Press and delighted in that it confirmed my stance on all of these structures. My husband has taken pleasure in accusing me of depriving my children of "good ole fun" as I have never allowed them to play in, what I have always referred to as 'lice-pits'. It was disturbing to find that there were much more dangerous threats to be worried about. Thank you for posting this!
KeiMar 6 months ago 8
@KeiMar Thanks for taking the time to watch. Please share the link with other parents that you know so that we can increase awareness.
DrECJordan 6 months ago
As someone with Crohn's Disease who has suffered tremendously, I think it is absolutely critical that we let children play in dirt and not shelter them excessively from germs, so when I first visited this video, I thought it would be along the same lines as people who go to the tropics and take great offense when their hotel rooms aren't absolutely sterile. That being said, this playland does look excessively filthy, and certainly unmaintained to any degree, as evidenced by the graffiti.
vorpal22 7 months ago 2
Parent should really stop taking their kids to these "restaurants" period. Your SOLE purpose as a parent is to provide your child with: A. Quality sustenance, B. Love and nurture, C: A safe, sanitary environment. These three things are all you have to do as a parent, yet you are brainwashed into thinking that you have to get a job in order to be able to pay to take them to a place like McDonalds. Instead, you buy your kids mystery food, throw them in a plastic jungle, and whine about sanitation.
ScarletFever84 7 months ago
Really, how hard is it to clean this mess up? It's just plastic.
PaulineVanStanley 7 months ago
If you are upset about how clean or unclean these playlands are dont take you children there.. get your food and take them to a park. Where there are less chances of things for them to get into.
acuriouskitty101 7 months ago
I would just ask two questions for you. First of all, what lab did you use to conduct the testing on the samples you obtained at these establishments.
The second question I would ask is whether or not these are actually corporate owned facilities or franchised establishments? If it is a problem with a franchised establishment your issue may be more with the management at the franchise level and not the corporate level.
Ezzee 7 months ago
@Ezzee Please feel free to email me directly and I will be happy to answer all of your questions.
DrECJordan 7 months ago
I am lucky that our McDonald's regularly cleans their playland. If I complain about something, they clean it right then and there. But they also pay bi weekly to have the place detailed and it is SPOTLESS when they are done! I've been inside of it, too, so I know it isn't filthy. This McD's she showed is just disgusting. I would be ashamed to be the manager and admit I let it stay that filthy.
shandi411 7 months ago
Ick....X__x
It's that kinda thing that made me dislike Burger King.
PokemonInuyashax 7 months ago
Thank god the only Play Place I ever went in as a child was brand new (as in just constructed). This is disgusting.
Alt0233 7 months ago
the truth of the matter is, i never licked the playplace as a kid.. nor did i eat any food i might have found.. nor did i understand what was written on the walls..
i never got super-sick. besides the yearly flu, i was fine. so were all my nieces and nephews and siblings.. and we were living in nyc.. going to mc'donalds and roy rogers and playing the playplaces for at least an hour. but we didn't go more than twice a year max. parents weren't keen on outside food to begin with.
nycmeemz 7 months ago
Man please. Besides the fact that I'm SO not interested in having my 5 year old son crawl through your sons poop and throw-up, I do NOT want him reading swear words in a place that he should be having care-free fun. Yeah, yeah, I know.. "Take your kid somewhere else..." No worries. I will. and am.
ccmatthews84 7 months ago
(cont.)
I personally know one family who eat lunch and dinner at McDonalds and let their kids play in the play place after they finish their meals. I haven't heard of them getting sick, but now that I see this, I am surprised they haven't.
There is another McDonalds around my area and it smells like sewage all the time. They have had many complaints and have done nothing about that and it surprises me. I know many people who won't go there for that reason.
YaoiGirlForLife 7 months ago
I use to work at McDonalds and can personally say that we never did clean the play area. They was one time when a child threw up and they just mopped up the area and said that it was clean enough for kids to play in again. I have to say that I am surprised that their aren't more cases where children get sick because some of the people that I use to serve at McDonalds were there with their kids everyday or sometimes 2 and 3 times a day.
YaoiGirlForLife 7 months ago
This lady isn't lying one bit. Some of these fast food restaurants in Arizona are just plain disgusting. She is just picking on the playlands. The bathrooms in some of these places are the worst places on earth. The management and employees just don't give a damn how they look. When I go into one of these place and it isn't up to standards I walk out and go some place else. Tucson has a Burger King on Golf Links and Kolbs that smells like sewage all the time.
liberaldemocratic 7 months ago
Now I know why my parents never took me to mcdonalds (along with the food obviously)
mrmaxthegreat1 7 months ago
The difference between these and outdoor playgrounds is that the rain and sun help to santitize the equipment. These aren't exposed to weather. They sit and breed bacteria. I stupidly let my oldest go into one of these when he was three and the next day he had the worst GI virus he had ever (even now) had. None of my kids are allowed in these. I don't want to risk exposing my children to ANY strain ofmeningitis.
zena124 7 months ago
@zena124 some mc'donalds play places are outdoor. idk.. i never got sick. and i had a horrible immune system as a kid.. truth of the matter is, if u see a place is filthy, leave. if u see a place is clean, stay. my family hated taking us to mcdonalds/royrogers/etc.. as kids. it was a once a year, and if we were lucky, twice a year thing. it was an "event" for us. never a pit stop.
personally. there are plenty of places i'd never step foot in cuz of bad experiences. i guess we all pick&choose.
nycmeemz 7 months ago
When I was younger I found trash all over the playland! Most of the locations in my area that used to have playlands are now gone! For some reason.When I become a mom my kids are gonna play in a legit playground the kind that's outside in a park and not this mess!!
CandyCat957 7 months ago
Thats quite gross, i remember when i was younger they were clean, but i live in canada
iisdan 7 months ago
@iisdan yea, Canada rulez!
MsKNadia 7 months ago
(cont. again)
Also, this is not just at McDonalds, this could be anywhere that has heavy public traffic. A handrail at a public park is probably just as dirty, if not dirtier, yet no one makes a big fuss over that. Is it because you can't see the dirt and germs?
parisiansunkist 7 months ago
(cont.)
So why would they take to the time to clean out a play area? We all know they should, but they don't--also you have to factor in some of the children that play there, are who aren't bathed on a regular basis, are sick, or aren't taught proper hygiene.
parisiansunkist 7 months ago
Ok am I the only one who was not that surprised by this video? I mean, your average McDonald's--not all, but I'd say most, have employees who don't take the time to wash their hands after using the restroom, scratch their face/nose/ears/hair while handling your food, below average kept restrooms, and who knows what else is going on behind closed doors....................
parisiansunkist 7 months ago 2
im amazed you actually went inside
kushkillss 7 months ago
Just saying, you could have taken the video in HD to show the filth n stuff in the playplace better. But congratulations, your vid and story got featured in Gizmodo! Also, you look pretty hot to be a mother of 4, not to be taken from a perverted point of view or anything. MILF
5CA5M 7 months ago 3
If you are so concerned about your kids health first why are you eating at Mcdonalds and second why dont you clean it, spend a little lass time moaning and more time doing.
Why is it always someone else's job? If you see a empty coke can on the path do you pick it up and put it in the bin or phone someone to complain?
austinbutcher 7 months ago 3
@austinbutcher Why would she have to clean it? Haha I mean isn't it the employee's job to at least clean this "play area"?
brittneynl1 7 months ago
A mysophobe's nightmare come true.
TheBrownFlash 7 months ago
I think a few cases if far too many when we are talking about children's health.
DrECJordan 7 months ago 3
@susielayhe while we were not there to eat (as was indicated in the video), thousands of kids do go there every day. Just because parents choose to feed their kids fast food every once in a while doesn't mean they should be condemned or that the conditions in which they play should be any less safe.
DrECJordan 7 months ago
Hi DrECJordan. I work at a Lego Brand Retail store.[Disclaimer I don't speak on behalf of the company] Just would like to let you know that our stores are very clean, and we clean nightly. If you were to find a problem with the cleanliness of our business we would listen and act, but I am pretty confident in saying that you or no other parent would need to do so at any of our locations. :) I recommend the drive-thru, eating, and then coming to a Lego store!
nexus15 7 months ago
@LoveTheCity123
You think it's a good thing that itty bitty kids just learning how to read should be up there sounding that word out? Is it really such a good idea to speed their interest in profanity and gang affiliation? I assume the answer is yes. So I have to say I think you're a pretty crummy person and I hope you don't plan to have children.
1footonthedawn 7 months ago
@1footonthedawn I agree 100% and it is one of the reasons that I was so upset. Unfortunately, the profanity and the gang writings are not uncommon.
DrECJordan 7 months ago
@DrECJordan Not only is it being repeatedly ignored, they are trying to say, in every state I go and to every reporter who calls (on the record), that it is an isolated incident. I actually tape recorded my original complaint as well as my follow-up. I also have gotten copies of emails that other parents have sent. Bottom line, there is no comprehensive corp policy related to sanitization and disinfection.
DrECJordan 7 months ago
You should have seen my face after this.
I think my dad rarely allowed me to play in these things. Because I can hardly remember, but we don't have many in the UK.
moviesunrated 7 months ago
Isn't gonorrea a STD? damn kids
jiawen88 7 months ago 2
Just be aware that if you think this is bad, imagine how their kitchen is handled.
NiGHTSChao689 7 months ago
@NiGHTSChao689 They obviously clean the kitchen...
moviesunrated 7 months ago
I usually let my kid squirt ketchup in the tubes and eat his french fries in there. He loves doing that.
JSasRays 7 months ago
I notice that apart from a quick shot of a couple of tables, there's not much detail shown. I would be concerned that you correlate "coliform" with faecal contamination. There is a class of faecal coliforms, but they are fairly specific. Coliforms themselves are ubiquitous in the environment. Would you be willing to post a link to the original paper so we can look at the evidence ourselves?
I'm a Health Inspector, but a parent too and also have concerns about these sorts of facilities.
murdocha 7 months ago
Was this in the east valley?
astrak1001 7 months ago
videos like this cause mass hysteria and allows the government to act as a nanny state. this is simply a woman with too much time on her hands.
and here is a tip, go "test" your toothbrushes and anything else near your bathroom see how much filth are on em.
Questionssm 7 months ago 4
HEY LADY GUESS WHAT, an Honorary PHD from Compton Community College does not make you a "Dr". You go to McDonalds for dirt cheap prices, do not expect 5 starts conditions.
KIx524 7 months ago 4
Wow, talking about obsessive.
Xanzzu 7 months ago 2
Kids need to get sick
nygiantsfromcali 7 months ago
People who don't agree with what's being done here should keep their opinions to themselves. Ask yourself what you have done to benefit society lately instead of picking on people who only want to help others.
Dadof4nuggles 7 months ago
Survival of the fittest. Dumb people take their (probably dumb) kids to unhealthy places. Gotta weed them out somehow!
BucketOfNouns 7 months ago
good thing that you investigated this for yourself. success
000DAAN000 7 months ago
I guess it's good that you looked into this, but don't you have anything better to do with your time? Jesus Christ
jnorris441 7 months ago 2
America!
lloydnone 7 months ago
this doctor probably showers her children in bleach everyday.
grokker 7 months ago
crazy mom with ocd takes their kids to mcdonalds buy them shitty food. rages about the playpen and not about the food. LOL.
grokker 7 months ago 2
Stay at home moms have nothing else do but bitch haha. But when i have kids they will not go to mcdonalds playhouse.
geores21 7 months ago
Also how is this more dirty than any other playground in the US?
jrolson85 7 months ago
my guess is that these areas have never been cleaned since being open.
mrgoomanchu 7 months ago
What people dont know is that there are poop particles everywhere.
Learned that from Mythbusters...
jrolson85 7 months ago
Also, nice use of "your kid will die!" scare tactics...so where are the 1000s of reports of dead kids being infected at the playplaces?
AgentHaun 7 months ago 7
@AgentHaun I dont have thousands but I have dozens of parents who write to me and the reported with whom I have interviewed all over the country talking about how their child contracted impetigo, pink eye, a severe GI infection, viral meningitis, hand foot and mouth disease, and the list goes on and on. All of these were traced back to an indoor playland.
DrECJordan 7 months ago 9
@AgentHaun Sorry, but "potentially dangerous" doesn't come off as a "your kids will die" scare tactic. It's a very real warning. As a side note, if older kids are able to get in there are take time to graffiti (like the large "FREDDY" that seems like it may have taken an hour to color in), what else can these older kids be doing in there?
ScarletFever84 7 months ago 7
Gross, but that's how I built up my immune system as a child. I'm only sick (with flu etc) once every few years - I suspect because my mum wasn't a germ nazi. Which isn't to say shit in the mcdonald's playplace isn't nasty, but ya know....just sayin.
AgentHaun 7 months ago 36
@AgentHaun Kids don't build up immunities to pathogens. Yes, kids should get dirty, have fun, and be exposed to germs but this is something totally different.
DrECJordan 7 months ago 2
@DrECJordan I ask again - where are all the dead kid reports? The playplaces should be littered with corpses by now....and yes there may be a few real cases of deadly illness borne in these, but still, the way you put it dead kids should be commonplace among all those who venture into these playplaces. I call Attention whoring and scare tactics to a degree. Prove me otherwise.
AgentHaun 7 months ago 2
Thank you for doing this. It is good for people to know this. Especially people who take their kids to fast food places. Not my kids. Ever.
And what 7 people disliked this?!??! How can you dislike this? They are either McDonalds employees or Mexicans.
SexFoodMusic 7 months ago
Comment removed
SexFoodMusic 7 months ago
@Syntox
Who cares what the third world has to put up with. If it were your kid, would you consciously let him or her play in am open sewer (which is these playgrounds are with fecal contamination)? If you have kids and would let them do so, do you mind if any of us contact CPS and give them your name?
opl500 7 months ago
McNasty... 365 Black!
craven88 7 months ago
When you have a Doctorate, you should know that it's better to let children play in places where there occur some bacteria and germs otherwise they are more prone to get autoimmune diseases, which are far more dangerous than some fecal matter. By the way, do you now that approximately 1 out of 8 persons have fecal matter under their shoes, so everyone unite, together we can get shoes banned!
MoeZsyslak 7 months ago 2
Breaking News: Earth is contaminated with dirt, germs, and bugs! Humans are using swear words willy-nilly! Film at 11.
MeiraVoirdire 7 months ago 8
#1 It is Mcdonalds !!
so many children eat their food,grab their drink then go to bathroom with out washing their hands then go grab their food again then they go touch everything in the slide then they grab their food again then go back in the slide. it is impossible for a Mcdonalds worker to babysit every kid that goes in there and also how how often are parks in local playgrouds and schools sanitized? you might want to check those out also because schools get alot of traffic than a mcdonalds
danielg623 7 months ago 17
@danielg623 - I do so agree with you. Seriously, if a parent doesn't want to run into this, keep your kids at home. But let me tell you, if you think that this is ONLY playplaces, don't ever take your kid to an outside playground. For heaven's sake, this woman is a scaremonger. We don't need more government regulation. Trust me, if parents stop taking their kids to these, fast food places will eliminate them.
I've raised four kids that went to these and never got sick.
tadsgirl 7 months ago
@danielg623 I dont expect for them to have their workers disinfect these areas. It is ridiculously inexpensive for them to hire a company to come in twice a month to disinfect and have the workers or a special crew sanitize nightly. There are places who care about kids health all over the country who already have this type of policy in place and it doesn't seem to be an inconvenience.
DrECJordan 7 months ago
@DrECJordan yea but it will take more than wiping it down with sanitzer to disinfect all the stuff in there. You would have to tear the play park down to disinfect every germ! it is impossible to make these parks 100% germ free and even tearing it down still would not do the job. you should do a lab test in rides at amusement parks like Disneyland I bet you will even find flaws in theirs but do they have en excuse? they have about 200 million people a year visit their establisment.
danielg623 7 months ago
Thank you so much for posting this video. This is absolutely disgusting and unexeptable! More cases of illness in children occuring after playing in these playgrounds should be reported and hopefully force (lawsuit?) these fastfood places to have regulations of their playgrounds. One would think this is normal common sense!!!!!! Do we dare to eat their food? looking at the hygene kept in the playground it is a scary thought to bite into any of their menues!!!!!
EvasAngel 8 months ago
Check out this list of businesses who are pro children's health. They either shared this as an email with the parents/staff in their network, posted it on their web page, or as their FB status: Cardon's Children's Hospital, SWIMkids USA, City of Chandler, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Aqua Tots, Awakening Seed School, Gold Medal Gymnastics, Desert Devils Gymnastics, Kaplan University, Chic-fil-a, Gold Medal Swim School, Play Factory, Toy Town, Ondre International
SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!!
DrECJordan 8 months ago
buy your kid an xbox 360 if you want him to become overweight and have fun at the same time, don't take him to the McD's with a playplace!!!!
Your kids don't deserve the right to a playplace in FatFood restaurants, regulation isn't necessary for that which should cease to exist. God forbid all you broke back parents cough up enough cash to buy a bicycle for your fat kid to ride at your X-Spouse,
70's kids FAIL HARD
desertdude1234 8 months ago
Cleaning them can be incredibly difficult, I'm in shape and don't eat that filth, but many of my coworkers are physically incapable of maneuvering those playplaces.
Spoiled-Brat-Entitled America better start tipping me if they want me scrubbing a Rainbow Colored International Space Station with a toothbrush
2/3 of this country are overweight pigs, that means only 1/3 of Americans can physically clean a playplace
PlayPlaces stand for UNSUSTAINABILITY and should be OUTLAWED
desertdude1234 8 months ago
In addition, as informative as this video is, the fact that there are no federal regulations in place means that it is ultimately up to parents to make good 'parenting' decisions and not let their children play on these structures. I feel as if Americans complain so much about over-regulation by the government, but when it comes to basic decisions over personal life choices (called parenting,) they want additional regulations. Mom, you seem smart enough, focus on targeting other parents.
ecarpenter27 8 months ago
With all due respect, I appreciate you bringing this to other parents attention....However, considering how bad McDonalds food is for you and yours, are you the least bit surprised this is what their 'playplace' looks like? McDonalds is probably the last place a child needs to be eating, let alone playing at.
honeyjade0688 8 months ago
@honeyjade0688 so true. In addition, as informative as this video is, the fact that there are no federal regulations in place means that it is ultimately up to parents to make good 'parenting' decisions and not let their children play on these structures. I feel as if Americans complain so much about over-regulation by the government, but when it comes to basic decisions over personal life choices (called parenting,) they want additional regulations. Mom, you seem smart enough, but grow a brain
ecarpenter27 8 months ago
@ecarpenter27 Im definitely not trying to tell people how to parent, thats not me. Personally though, I know what McDonalds food can do to my children. However, Im grateful this video came out, so other parents can see that Mcdonalds is harming you&your family through more than just the "food" they serve there.
honeyjade0688 8 months ago 2
Surprised she didn't get arrested for video tapping this.
defeatedmammal 8 months ago
It would be really great if the corporations would take responsibility for their facilities. We don't need more government regulation. We as parents need to evaluate places we take our families. These structures are a large cost to the local stores, and are designed to attract more business. If, through knowledge, parents realize that these structures are not a good place to take our family, it will affect the businesses bottom line. that is when they will start to take corrective action
dewutube 8 months ago 2
@dewutube Unfortunately, without regulation in place, most are not proactive and children are at risk. There are regulations related to child care and regulations related to food establishments but there is a gap in between. I don't think that the gov't needs to be involved in most things related to private business. Children's health, however, is one place where I believe regulation should exist.
DrECJordan 8 months ago
@DrECJordan
It is interesting that I got great response to a complaint I made about my local McDs. My children had gone in to order while I made a business phone call in the car. They came back out with no food saying that the employees were all screaming at each other and being rude to the customers in line in front of them, so they didn't want to eat there. We made a detailed complaint to HQ about this, and there was great follow-through. Yet your very serious complaint is ignored???
1footonthedawn 7 months ago
@dewutube sometimes we do need regulation because, like children, corporations wont always do the right thing unless they are chided to do so
saiyajinmillina 7 months ago
excellent video, thanks for bringing this to the attention of parents!
micosotabella 8 months ago
I really like the new video. It is very clear and concise on the problem that all of us, parents, have ignored. Someone posted that you shouldn't go back to the McDonald's, the problem isn't with just that facility. This is a global problem at any restaurant offering a play structure for children. I would think most parents would think that at ANY restaurants would clean the tables, floors,and bathrooms. Why would we think the Play land wouldn't?
pebblesspace 8 months ago
@Je1717y Great question. You can call the corporate HQ's of these types of places and ask what their corporate policy is. If they aren't able to tell you, it is probably because they don't have one. If that is the case, complain. You can also contact you local legislature and urge them to sponsor/support legislation related to regulation of playlands.
DrECJordan 8 months ago
Thank you for the excellent video. As a person who works and owns a business in Early CCHildhood Education, which is highly regulated, I have to say I am absolutely appalled that there is no action that can be taken to correct this. I am not surprised,as this seems to have been going on for some time and while I try to avoid these situations with my own children, we do need to have some avenue to either control or eliminate these types of situations.
octillogurl 8 months ago
Very well done video. I appreciate the fact that there was evidence supporting your claims and I hope someone sees this and realizes that something needs to be done. I shared this on my FB to help spread the word.
beyondless17 8 months ago
@beyondless17 Thanks so much for the positive feedback and for helping to keep kiddos safe and healthy.
DrECJordan 8 months ago
How about you just stop going to that McDonalds? Speak with your patronage and money, no need to legislate everything.
squegul 8 months ago
thats gross! i doubt the mcdonalds workers wanna touch that random hair and grime and feces..they should just knock this place down
69heheh69 8 months ago
Eating that gruel will kill you faster than any of the germs there... I agree with you Ive complained before also and alls they do is pass the buck and blame somebody else... One even told me the play area is run by a different entity....
romdog67 8 months ago
The Mcdonald's on Pecos and Mcqueen has had a worker who keeps a parrot in the back when they are on shift. This was for over a year.
6stringbling 8 months ago
Oh my goodness! I reposted to Facebook & Twitter. Maybe, if we can get to the court of public opinion, McDonald's Corporate might intervene. This is disgusting.
jvanwest 8 months ago
@jvanwest That is my hope. Thanks for helping!
DrECJordan 8 months ago
Your concerns are most appreciated, and thanks for speaking out. On a related issue with McDonalds, there has been an effort to blame the company for selling junk food. This has been going on since 2002. Also, in May of 2010 the National Employment figures where 50% employed by McDonalds. So do go forth, but remember it is hard to fight the temptation, for so many, getting the $1 meal. We as individuals have a choice, and unfortunately McDonalds is still making a very good profit. Keep Care
GranPaChuck 8 months ago
When my daughter was younger she was playing in one of these play structures and couldn't find her way out. She began crying and I had to go in after her. In order to get her I had to cross over puddles of urine!
Thank you for bringing these unsanitary and unsafe conditions to the public's attention.
number1dotter 8 months ago
So many of us are ignorantly blissful until we find out firsthand about that revolting muck, and then try to wash it off your firsthand!
I had a similar experience at a McDonald's.
A clinical analysis - I heartily applaud the extent of your outrage!
My own complaint was met with an annoyingly dispassionate response.
You've done well. It's great exposure of a very real problem, and until folks with official titles get in McDonald's faces about it it won't be addressed.
herrbrush 8 months ago
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herrbrush 8 months ago
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herrbrush 8 months ago
I truely believe in what you are doing. You are really going to change the world with this information. I really hope that legistation is passed that prevents these corporations from endangering our children.
Dadof4nuggles 8 months ago