McDonald’s Ordering Touchscreen Tests 'Reveal Poo And Bacteria On Terminals' - London Metropolitan University Sampled Eight McDonald’s Restaurants In The UK

Bacteria and faeces were found on McDonald’s touchscreens during an investigation, it has been claimed.

Machines at a number of UK branches were swabbed and it was reportedly found they all had coliforms - bacteria present in animal and human excrement.

McDonald's customers often place their orders using touchscreens at the fast food restaurants, before heading over to the counter to collect their food.

But a probe claims a number of bacteria were found on all the screens tested, used by thousands of customers every day.

London Metropolitan University's school of human sciences and Metro.co.uk's study says they took swabs from eight McDonald's restaurants, including six in London and two in Birmingham.

Listeria bacteria was allegedly discovered in Oxford Street and Holloway Road restaurants - causing listeriosis which can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Meanwhile, three-quarters of the screens tested showed up traces of Proteus bacteria which can be found in human and animal faeces, the study claims

And a touchscreen at one venue was said to be found to have staphylococcus, a bacteria which can cause blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome.

McDonald's - which has 1,300 McDonald's restaurants across the UK - says its screens are cleaned regularly throughout the day.

It starts around people’s noses, which they can touch then transfer it to the touchscreen.

Klebsiella bacteria was also allegedly detected, which a cause painful urinary tract infections, septicaemia, diarrhoea and even pneumonia.

London Metropolitan University's Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Dr Paul Matawele, told Metro.co.uk: "We were all surprised how many gut and faecal bacteria there was on the touchscreen machines.

"Touchscreen technology is being used more and more in our daily lives but these results show people should not eat food straight after touching them, they are unhygienic and can spread disease.

"These bacteria can be on touchscreen machines for days on end."

The restaurants tested were Oxford Circus, Holloway Road, Oxford Street, Kensington High Street, Seven Sisters Road and Bethnal Green in London, and Ramp and Pigeon Park in Birmingham.

However as only eight restaurants were tested and, the results do not necessarily represent all branches.

McDonald's also insist that staff regularly clean the screens with disinfectant, however, Dr Matawele says it is not enough as the germs remain there for days at a time.

A McDonald’s spokesman said: “Our self-order screens are cleaned frequently throughout the day with a sanitiser solution. All of our restaurants also provide facilities for customers to wash their hands before eating.”