A former McDonald’s manager from Southbridge, Massachusetts, appeared in court on Friday following allegations of contaminating food. The case gained attention after a viral video surfaced, allegedly showing Kaylie Santos, the ex-manager, spitting on french fries before serving them to a customer. The incident has sparked significant local concern, especially among families who frequent the establishment.

Details of the Court Hearing

The court hearing combined an arraignment for Santos and a request for a restraining order by her former girlfriend, who appeared visibly emotional. The judge ultimately denied the restraining order but agreed with prosecutors that Santos should have no contact with the alleged victim upon her release. Santos, who pleaded not guilty to charges of distributing food with a harmful substance, was released without bail. Her attorney did not contest the conditions that Santos stay away from the McDonald’s where she worked and refrain from working in the food industry while the case is pending.

Incident Background

The controversy began when a video went viral on Snapchat last month, showing a worker at the Southbridge McDonald’s stuffing french fries into her mouth and then placing them back into a fry box. A second employee is seen laughing in the background. The video prompted a police investigation, which led to Santos being summoned to court. According to the police report, the customer who received the contaminated fries had previously been in a relationship with Santos and was specifically targeted. The customer confirmed consuming the contaminated food, although no other customers were affected.

Community and Legal Reactions

The local McDonald’s franchisees have publicly condemned the actions of the former employee, and both they and the alleged victim have expressed their intent to press charges. During the court proceedings, the alleged victim testified that Santos had requested in May, after the video was filmed, not to press charges. Despite the defense lawyer’s argument that the restraining order request came significantly later than the incident, the judge denied the request.

Santos is scheduled to return to court on July 31. The case continues to draw attention in the Southbridge community, highlighting concerns over food safety and personal conduct in public-facing roles.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.