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Original poster

Do I need to be worried?

62 replies

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 19:34

Went to McDonald's yesterday evening.
Got handed the meal at the drive through window.
Realised too late that one of the straws had fresh blood on it.
Is there any risk to health? Should I complain?

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/09/2025 22:13

Anusername · 12/09/2025 21:03

She’s worried apparently otherwise wouldn’t be asking and googling here. As we all know blood can carry a lot of infectious diseases, what is so wrong about asking a GP if the OP is so worried?!

Show quote history

Because she didn’t have contact with any blood, she needed reassurance off here because she has health anxiety, not to speak to a doctor about the blood. She has not had any contact with any blood.

Original poster
SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 21:53

Must have missed the promotion! @Arlanymor. I think the fact the wrapper is very thin and made of paper isn't helping.

I think some infectious diseases are transmitted from blood stream to blood stream not from blood to mouth.

That's a good point. @Anusername

It has helped rationalize things a bit @inaminn. Tried not to think about it yesterday, but have been feeling quite under the weather today which has triggered the spiral.

I wonder if the responses might have been different if I had said a waiter in the Savoy served me something with blood on it...
I am not a frequent visitor to "Macky Dees".

OP posts:
TeamBuffalo · 12/09/2025 21:07

Anusername · 12/09/2025 21:03

She’s worried apparently otherwise wouldn’t be asking and googling here. As we all know blood can carry a lot of infectious diseases, what is so wrong about asking a GP if the OP is so worried?!

Show quote history

Good luck getting a GP appointment for that.

inaminn · 12/09/2025 21:05

You are spiralling a bit here, but if you have health anxiety I can see why, especially with google giving you all sorts of scary information.

You will be absolutely fine. It was only the wrapper that had blood on it, the straw itself didn't. I'd guess that the blood was nearly dry anyway so not dangerous at all since you don't have open wounds on your hands yourself.

Wash your hands thoroughly and try to rationalise it. Not easy with health anxiety, as I think no matter what any of us says you will not be satisfied with our reassurance. But I hope you are just the same.

Anusername · 12/09/2025 21:03

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/09/2025 20:52

She had zero contact with any blood, she has said this twice. What is there to ask a doctor?

Show quote history

She’s worried apparently otherwise wouldn’t be asking and googling here. As we all know blood can carry a lot of infectious diseases, what is so wrong about asking a GP if the OP is so worried?!

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/09/2025 20:52

Anusername · 12/09/2025 20:49

I don’t know why many people are being so unkind and unhelpful here. I could relate the panic. But I think some infectious diseases are transmitted from blood stream to blood stream not from blood to mouth. But worth checking with your doctor…

She had zero contact with any blood, she has said this twice. What is there to ask a doctor?

IAmQuiteNiceActually · 12/09/2025 20:50

I have health anxiety so I do understand but I don't think you should worry. Try to think it through and imagine what a GP would think if you told them this....kindly, they'd think you were bonkers :). I'm not being mean...it helps me a lot when people laugh at me because then I know I'm being daft.

You are fine...don't spoil your evening worrying about this.

Anusername · 12/09/2025 20:49

I don’t know why many people are being so unkind and unhelpful here. I could relate the panic. But I think some infectious diseases are transmitted from blood stream to blood stream not from blood to mouth. But worth checking with your doctor…

Arlanymor · 12/09/2025 20:28

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:22

Thank you for your helpful response @Arlanymor. Yes, I do have health anxiety. There was indeed no visible blood on the actual straw.

You're welcome. The straw wrapper definitely would have acted as a barrier and as you say, nothing visible on the straw. You will honestly be fine. I am certain of it. And importantly... did you win anything good on the Monopoly promotion? 😉

Didimum · 12/09/2025 20:27

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:12

Anyone with a brain around tonight?

You’re incredibly rude, yet expecting people to bend over backwards for your irrational anxiety?

Go phone 111 if you’re that worried and stop talking to people like crap.

Charlize43 · 12/09/2025 20:26

Not to sound alarmist or anything but Morgan Spurlock is dead (53).

He ate MacDonalds... just saying.

LaughingCat · 12/09/2025 20:26

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:12

Anyone with a brain around tonight?

Plenty, which is why people are asking you questions.
Did you see an open wound on the server’s hand?
Did you use the straw in question?
Do you have any cuts on the hand you used to handle the straw?
Was the blood fresh or dried?

The Googling you’ve done is about whether you’ve had contact with the blood: ie, whether it got into your bloodstream somehow. This can be through a open wound on your hands or whether you used the straw and ingested some blood etc.

I’d be icked out and probably would be put off my Maccy Dees lol

DaisyChain505 · 12/09/2025 20:23

The person at the window handing you the bags isn’t handling and preparing food also. They are purely on that window handing out food.

The straw was in a wrapper. I really wouldn’t be worried.

Original poster
SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:22

Thank you for your helpful response @Arlanymor. Yes, I do have health anxiety. There was indeed no visible blood on the actual straw.

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/09/2025 20:17

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:09

Google - what to do if you've come into contact with someone else's blood.

Seek urgent medical attention, as early intervention and testing are crucial to prevent potential transmission of blood-borne viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C. A healthcare professional can assess your risk and recommend necessary post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment and follow-up testing.

You literally said you didn’t come into contact with the blood, so why even google that? Again, fuss over nothing. You don’t need to be worried, nothing even happened.

youalright · 12/09/2025 20:15

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:12

Anyone with a brain around tonight?

Why do you need to borrow one

Arlanymor · 12/09/2025 20:15

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:09

Google - what to do if you've come into contact with someone else's blood.

Seek urgent medical attention, as early intervention and testing are crucial to prevent potential transmission of blood-borne viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C. A healthcare professional can assess your risk and recommend necessary post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment and follow-up testing.

Do you health anxiety perhaps? You didn't come into contact with the blood - there was a very small amount on a paper wrapper, which you discarded. Also very unlikely it was diseased blood anyway. I think you are overthinking this.

Original poster
SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:12

Anyone with a brain around tonight?

OP posts:
youalright · 12/09/2025 20:12

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:09

Google - what to do if you've come into contact with someone else's blood.

Seek urgent medical attention, as early intervention and testing are crucial to prevent potential transmission of blood-borne viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C. A healthcare professional can assess your risk and recommend necessary post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment and follow-up testing.

Your absolutely right call an ambulance immediately 🤣🤣 your skin acts as a barrier which is why the first thing I said to you was do you have a cut or did you stick it in your mouth

Original poster
SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:09

Google - what to do if you've come into contact with someone else's blood.

Seek urgent medical attention, as early intervention and testing are crucial to prevent potential transmission of blood-borne viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C. A healthcare professional can assess your risk and recommend necessary post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment and follow-up testing.

OP posts:
youalright · 12/09/2025 20:03

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 19:44

It's not like that @youalright. Blood can contain a whole host of nasties.

I didn't see his hands @ToKittyornottoKitty. He was clearly wounded as the straw had blood on it.

But how would complaining to mcdonalds change that its surely one of them things you say at the time to make them aware they have cut themselves or if its not until you've left you just throw the straw away and get on with your life.

Original poster
SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 20:03

Permittedperson · 12/09/2025 19:48

Did you or didn’t you see an open wound on the server?

Why does that matter?

No, it wasn't ketchup.

OP posts:
OldBeyondMyYears · 12/09/2025 19:55

Are you sure it wasn’t ketchup?

Arlanymor · 12/09/2025 19:52

SpinCycling · 12/09/2025 19:41

Yes, this. I didn't use the one that had most of the blood but another with a few marks on the wrapper.
The straw inside looked okay but now I'm worrying maybe some blood got into my drink on a microscopic level.
Also, the server clearly had an open wound and was probably preparing and handling food while actively bleeding.

Show quote history

The whole reason straws have wrappers is to protect them from contaminants. So the wrapper will have done its job and your straw will be have pristine, so no chance of anything going into your drink.

We've all had experiences of cutting ourselves and not realising for a short time - I am sure that within a minute or two they would have noticed and put on a blue catering plaster. I don't think there is any need to complain over an accident that doubtless would have been noticed a short time after and taken care of.

BuffetTheDietSlayer · 12/09/2025 19:49

Was probably just dried ketchup.

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