Public health issues queried and answered
DURING student O Week at Dunedin, McDonald’s, at 232 George St, was the convenient fast food eating joint in the centre of town. Every evening into the early hours for the past nine days at least, clusters of students full of bonhomie congregated inside and outside the eatery. To the general public’s surprise, the student boost coincided with McDonald’s removing all liquid soap dispensers from the walls of its customer toilet facilities on these ‘‘busy’’ nights. Staff offer unqualified reasons such as ‘‘the students knock them off the walls’’ (rubbish) . . . or, ‘‘it’s too expensive so we remove them’’ (what price cross infection?). This is a glaring health and safety issue — a McDonald’s management issue. The practice is insanitary and dangerous to public health. Elizabeth Kerr
Dunedin
[McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) communications executive Sarah Fitzpatrick replies: ‘‘McDonald’s George St made the decision to remove liquid soap dispensers from their bathrooms overnight following ongoing incidents of vandalism and theft of the dispensers. These incidents are a reoccurring issue that are not limited to O Week activities. The facilities provided by McDonald’s are regularly used late at night as it’s the only venue in the central city with toilets currently available to the public.
‘‘To limit the potential for damage to the facilities, and provide a safe environment for customers and staff, the restaurant will continue to remove the wallmounted soap dispensers overnight. However, temporary soap dispensers will be placed in the toilets during these hours.
‘‘We have clarified this approach with MPI, and also our obligations regarding health and safety. We trust customers can see we are looking to resolve an ongoing and costly issue, with a solution that allows us to continue to provide a safe restaurant experience.’’]
[A spokesperson for the Ministry of Primary Industries replies: ‘‘The ministry has investigated the issue and confirms that McDonald’s has agreed to replace the dispensers with a temporary dispenser during Orientation Week. This means soap will be available at all times.’’]
Reunion
Tokarahi Golf Club Inc: A 50th jubilee celebration will be held on March 17 and 18, 2017. All past and present members welcome. For information and registrations contact Sandra, asgibson@xtra.co.nz or Margaret, js.ma.hore@ruralinzone.net.