McDonald's Grinch Fries Lead to Unexpected Outcome

As companies embrace the holiday season, McDonald's joined the festivities with the introduction of its Grinch Meal.

The Grinch Meal, a collaboration between Dr. Seuss Enterprises and McDonald's, launched on December 2nd. The meal features Dill Pickle "Grinch Salt" McShaker Fries, available with a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets and a medium drink. The fries are seasoned by combining them with the McShaker and Grinch Salt inside the bag.

For one McDonald's employee in Utah, trying the new menu item had an unexpected effect.

Unforeseen Consequences

Ella Ashcraft, a McDonald's worker based in Utah (@ella_ashcraft3), posted a photo showing the aftermath of tasting the Grinch Meal. The image depicted her bathroom with essentials like Sprite, saltine crackers, wet wipes, and a puke bag.

"Tried the new Grinch fries at McDonald's and got so sick that I lost almost 5 pounds in the span of 4 hours," she stated in the photo's text overlay.

The content creator elaborated, "Me and two coworkers tried them and all three of us got this sick! PSA." She added a silver lining, "Going on a cruise next week so I'm actually not that mad HAHA."

Viral Reaction

Ashcraft's photo quickly gained traction, amassing 3 million views within two days. However, the reason for the attention was unexpected.

"So 5lbs per meal would you say? just trying to decide how many to buy," one user commented.

Another remarked, "Noted. Will try this before my vacation," while a third stated, "Guess where i'm going."

Warnings and Food Poisoning

Some users reported seeing warnings about the meal beforehand. One commenter recalled, "I saw a video of a psychic saying a big chain is going to release a meal that gives everyone salmonella."

Another echoed, "I'm not even kidding I saw an intuitive on here the other day say one of the holiday meals would make a lot of people sick."

Foodborne illness can result from consuming food or drinks contaminated with harmful bacteria due to improper handwashing, storage, or cleaning, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms of food poisoning, as listed by the Cleveland Clinic, may appear within hours to days. Depending on the germ, symptoms can last from 24 hours to a week and typically resolve on their own.

The CDC recommends seeking medical attention for the following symptoms:

• High fever (over 102°F)
• Bloody stools
• Frequent vomiting preventing fluid intake
• Dehydration signs (decreased urination)

Health tracking apps like Shotlee can help monitor symptoms and provide insights into your well-being during such situations.