# McDonald's employee arrested for serving over-salted burger to policeman. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2007, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755 "2007-09-11T05:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/1 "2007-09-11T05:37:55Z")
Well, it’s good to see the law enforcement establishment of Georgia are not ones to be trifled with: > [@](#): > > UNION CITY, Ga. (AP) - [Kendra Bull], a McDonald’s employee spent a night in jail and is facing criminal charges because a police officer’s burger was too salty, so salty that he says it made him sick. > \ > Bull, 20, said she accidentally spilled salt on hamburger meat and told her supervisor and a co-worker, who “tried to thump the salt off.” > \ > Police said samples of the burger were sent to the state crime lab for tests. The story of the “over-salted burger caper” can be found [here.](http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2007/09/10/Nation/Police.Mcdonalds.Employee.Who.Over.Salted.Burger.Jailed.Because.Cop.Became.Sick-2958483.shtml) Okay, so this story may not be of the same caliber as Michael Vick, the McCann family, Larry Craig, and so on but it seems to me that the officer was grossly over-estimating the seriousness of this “crime”. I find it very disturbing that someone could actually get arrested for this. Let’s change the perspective on this. Suppose _we_ were one of the recipients of this “death-burger” and we called the police to report this “heinous” transgression. Don’t you think the police would laugh their asses off and say you were way off-base for taking such a serious attitude toward an incident that would probably end up on a “Jay Leno Headlines” segment? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/2 "2007-09-11T09:58:08Z")
Looks like a simple case of as-salt to me. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/3 "2007-09-11T10:19:19Z")
[QUOTE=wolf\_meister] Let’s change the perspective on this. Suppose _we_ were one of the recipients of this “death-burger” and we called the police to report this “heinous” transgression. Don’t you think the police would laugh their asses off and say you were way off-base for taking such a serious attitude toward an incident that would probably end up on a “Jay Leno Headlines” segment? [/QUOTE] Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/4 "2007-09-11T10:44:14Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] Looks like a simple case of as-salt to me. [/QUOTE] That’s why he used the ma **NaCl** es. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/5 "2007-09-11T11:15:06Z")
[QUOTE=Scissorjack] That’s why he used the ma **NaCl** es. [/QUOTE] Oh, now, that’s just showing off. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/6 "2007-09-11T11:28:22Z")
I’d have to know how much salt is “some salt,” and how many patties were affected, and what was meant by “thump off.” I’m trying to picture the scene, and wondering why she was handling salt. To refill the shaker of salt-and-pepper mix that gets sprinkled over the patties while they’re cooking? Probably. And if so, it’s not advisable to do that near where the patties are stored, though I can understand why someone would. So the supervisor has to make a judgment call. How many patties are affected, and how badly, and is it worth trying to salvage them? If it was a matter of a tablespoon or two of salt scattered across the top layer of patties (I assume they were still in the carton, uncooked), it might have seemed worthwhile to try to get them un-salted, but by the same token, it wouldn’t be much of a loss to just toss them. If, OTOH, it was a pound or more of salt spilled into the carton, the only sensible response would be to write off whatever was left in there; all the patties would be contaminated, and beyond repair. What I wonder, though, is if this was the only customer who noticed and complained? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/7 "2007-09-11T11:28:54Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] Looks like a simple case of as-salt to me. [/QUOTE] He’ll be in a pickle now that he’s let this ketchup to him. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/8 "2007-09-11T11:38:45Z")
[QUOTE=Steve MB] He’ll be in a pickle now that he’s let this ketchup to him. [/QUOTE] I’m sure he’ll be done after they grill him. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/9 "2007-09-11T12:23:39Z")
She savored the idea that the policeman mustard with relish. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/10 "2007-09-11T12:29:49Z")
Fry 'em!! ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/11 "2007-09-11T13:32:27Z")
Of course, there’s no chance that this was a prank directed at the officer and when he escalated it, everybody backpedaled furiously in an attempt to cover up? But surely the officer _must_ be the bad guy. That would _never_ happen. Enjoy your RO. I doubt that we’ll ever get the truth on this one. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/12 "2007-09-11T13:34:28Z")
This case doesn’t pass [del]mustard[/del] muster. Can the employee counter the charges? Serious crime problem in LA: Drive-by shootings Serious crime problem in GA: Drive-in salting ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/13 "2007-09-11T13:37:28Z")
“I need a double cheeseburger. . .it’s for a cop.” [/supertroopers] ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/14 "2007-09-11T13:59:54Z")
[QUOTE=BubbaDog] Of course, there’s no chance that this was a prank directed at the officer and when he escalated it, everybody backpedaled furiously in an attempt to cover up? But surely the officer _must_ be the bad guy. That would _never_ happen. Enjoy your RO. I doubt that we’ll ever get the truth on this one. [/QUOTE] Oh come on. If you eat in a restaurant and receive a meal that’s been over salted, the response is _not_ to throw the cook in jail for the night. Regardless of the details of the ‘over salting,’ the officer clearly is overstepping the use of his powers here. ---
**Author:** ![Phatlewt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Phatlewt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phatlewt)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/15 "2007-09-11T14:18:29Z")
[QUOTE=BubbaDog] Of course, there’s no chance that this was a prank directed at the officer and when he escalated it, everybody backpedaled furiously in an attempt to cover up? But surely the officer _must_ be the bad guy. That would _never_ happen. Enjoy your RO. I doubt that we’ll ever get the truth on this one. [/QUOTE] What law do you suppose was violated, even if it was a prank? Would overcooking the burger be a crime? Personally, I believe that soggy fries should be a capital offense. A stale bun should get at least five years incarceration. You don’t want to know what happened to the guy who forgot to hold the onions… I specifically requested no onions! Seriously though, although it is possible to poison someone with excessive salt intake, I have a hard time believing that a harmful quantity of salt could be put on a burger without making the food inedible. Does anyone know how much salt is required at once to harm a normal human? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/16 "2007-09-11T14:57:23Z")
That would depend on what altitude you dropped it from and what form it was in. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/17 "2007-09-11T15:20:19Z")
[QUOTE=BubbaDog] I doubt that we’ll ever get the truth on this one. [/QUOTE] Lettuce see about that… ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/18 "2007-09-11T15:24:34Z")
Supertroopers > [@](#): > > Double Baco Cheese buger, it’s for a cop > > Why did you say that? Is he going to spit on it? > > Umm Don’t spit in that cop’s burger ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/19 "2007-09-11T15:27:50Z")
As I said in the GQ thread, here is what I really think happened. Employee sees the cop and decides to screw with his burger. She does something to poison it, maybe adds a few drops of grill cleaner. Cop eats burger and gets sick. When the police come back to question the cook, he gets scared and makes up some bullshit about too much salt and how it was inadvertent. Here we’re all focusing on whether or not an over salted burger can make one sick and I think we’re focusing on the wrong thing. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755/20 "2007-09-11T15:27:59Z")
[QUOTE=Phatlewt] What law do you suppose was violated, even if it was a prank? Would overcooking the burger be a crime? Personally, I believe that soggy fries should be a capital offense. A stale bun should get at least five years incarceration. You don’t want to know what happened to the guy who forgot to hold the onions… I specifically requested no onions! Seriously though, although it is possible to poison someone with excessive salt intake, I have a hard time believing that a harmful quantity of salt could be put on a burger without making the food inedible. Does anyone know how much salt is required at once to harm a normal human? [/QUOTE] There’s, interestingly, a thread in General Questions about this exact same incident that sheds some light on the situation. From some of the articles linked there it appears that the police officer had reason to believe that the person preparing his burger knew that it was for a police officer, because his meal ticket was $0.00 and this particular McDonald’s only gives free food to employees and cops. He also had reason to believe not that the burger was just oversalted, but that some sort of chemical poisoning had been used on him. **Gfactor** posted this over in the relevant GQ thread: > [@Gfactor](#): > > The various reports say the officer vomited and was briefly hospitalized. The local papers suggest that there might have been more than salt added to the burger. Also the specific charge the employee was charged with was reckless conduct (this is, again, from the GQ thread), which is defined as: > [@](#): > > (b) A person who causes bodily harm to or endangers the bodily safety of another person by consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that his act or omission will cause harm or endanger the safety of the other person and the disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation is guilty of a misdemeanor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-employee-arrested-for-serving-over-salted-burger-to-policeman/418755.md?page=2)