Southern Nevada Health District says former McDonald's employee spitting in customer's drink is a 'criminal act'

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — 13 Action News and Chief Investigator Darcy Spears are still following possible actions being taken after a McDonald’s employee reportedly spit into a Las Vegas customer’s iced drink.

The incident happened on Dec. 22. Cynthia Baer went to McDonald’s near Tropicana Avenue and Jones Boulevard to buy a treat for her kids. She also ordered an iced sugar-free French vanilla latte.

ORIGINAL STORY: 'It's definitely not coffee': Spitting-mad McDonald's worker causes health scare for Vegas customer

Baer says the employee cut her off and she asked to speak to a supervisor. Later, as she was drinking her drink, she felt a “slimy, jelly-like texture” in her mouth.

She immediately reported the incident to McDonald’s and contacted 13 Action News and that’s when Spears became involved and reported the incident.

The original story contained a statement from the owner and operator of the McDonald’s location, F. Ronald Smith. It read:

“Our number one priority is always the health and safety of our customers and employees. When we learned of the incident, we took the appropriate steps necessary to investigate the matter and immediately contacted local health authorities. The employee in question is no longer with our organization. We have also reached out to officials at the Southern Nevada Health District and requested that the department revoke this individual’s Food Handler Card – we sincerely hope they comply with this request.

We pride ourselves on serving safe, high quality food and beverages as well as adhering to all applicable local, state and federal guidelines and regulations. We have apologized to the customer that we didn’t meet those standards in this unacceptable incident and are taking action to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”

After seeing that McDonald’s had reached out to the Southern Nevada Health District and requested that the former employee’s Food Handler Card be revoked, Spears reached out SNHD also. This was their reply:

When the Southern Nevada Health District was notified of this incident, staff requested the location of the facility and information about the employee. Management was also informed that what occurred was a criminal offense and advised to contact the police. McDonald’s refused to provide any information to the Health District that would have allowed it follow up on this incident at the time. We were informed the employee had been terminated, and there was no additional action that our agency could take based on the available information.

13 Action News and Spears has reached out to McDonald’s for clarification about their request to the health district.