A former manager of a McDonald’s restaurant in Southbridge, Massachusetts, has been charged with food tampering following an incident that allegedly involved contaminating French fries served to her ex-girlfriend. Kaylie M. Santos, aged 22, faces serious charges related to the distribution of food products with harmful substances. She is expected to appear in Dudley District Court on June 5.
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The controversy emerged after a video surfaced on social media, capturing Santos engaging in inappropriate behaviour while preparing food. Officer Hector Melendez was alerted to the video, which was posted on the Southbridge First Facebook page. In the footage, Santos is reportedly seen making a statement regarding her ex-girlfriend’s desire for fries, before spatting into a fry carton and placing fries from her mouth into the container designated for a customer.
The investigation, which commenced on May 7, involved scrutiny of surveillance footage from the restaurant. Detective Sergeant Evan Genkos and his team collaborated with McDonald’s management to review over 220 hours of video in order to verify the claims. It is alleged that on April 9, Santos, identified as a night manager, was recorded tampering with food alongside another employee while both laughed at the incident.
As per reports, the footage shows Santos first spitting into an empty fry carton, followed by her wiping her lips with her hand. She then recorded a selfie video where she placed fries into her mouth before putting them back into the same carton. Santos subsequently handed the contaminated fries, along with a bag of drinks, to a customer through the drive-thru window.
Subsequent investigation efforts revealed a grey Ford Fusion at the drive-thru window around 10:21 p.m. on that date. The vehicle was traced to Haily Coburn, who confirmed she was the customer who received the fries. Coburn had dated Santos for approximately two years before their breakup in October 2024 and claimed that Santos had harassed her following the end of their relationship. Coburn had only ordered two soft drinks that evening and was surprised to receive fries alongside her order, consuming them without realising anything was amiss.
It was only when Coburn viewed the video online that she became aware of the incident. Frustrated and concerned, she decided to pursue criminal charges against Santos. Investigators noted that the act appeared to be specifically aimed at Coburn, and they do not believe that any other customers were adversely affected by Santos’ actions. Following the incident, a no-trespass order was issued against Santos on May 12.
The Southbridge Police Department has since concluded their investigation into the incident. In a formal statement, they confirmed that a felony charge of distributing food with a foreign substance would be brought against Santos. They acknowledged the cooperation extended by the restaurant’s management during the investigation, reflecting positively on their professionalism.
The Sellia Group, which operates the Southbridge McDonald’s, expressed their dismay in a statement regarding the actions of the individuals involved. They confirmed that employees associated with the incident were immediately suspended and ultimately terminated following an internal review. The owners reiterated that such behaviour is unacceptable and contradicts their commitment to food safety standards.
They also highlighted a collaborative effort with local authorities and the health department, which concluded that there were no public health violations resulting from the incident. “The wellbeing and safety of our Southbridge community remains our top priority,” the statement added, emphasising their dedication to maintaining high standards in food service.
As the story continues to unfold, it highlights the critical nature of food safety and the importance of adhering to proper procedures within the food service industry. The repercussions of such actions can significantly impact not only the individuals involved but also consumer trust and public health.