Three-Year-Old Girl Suffers Burns After Being Served Boiling Water at McDonald's
A three-year-old girl in Singapore was scalded after allegedly being served boiling water instead of cold water at a McDonald's restaurant, according to her father, former Singaporean soccer player Ridhuan Muhammad. The incident occurred on February 1, 2026, and has sparked concerns about food safety and communication protocols at fast-food establishments.
Father Describes Terrifying Ordeal
Ridhuan Muhammad, 41, shared the distressing experience on Instagram, explaining that what was supposed to be a normal family outing turned into a hospital visit. "Our hearts almost stopped," Muhammad wrote. "My daughter scalded her tongue after drinking water that was mistakenly given to her piping hot instead of cold water like we requested."
According to Muhammad's account, he approached the food collection counter and specifically asked a staff member to fill his daughter's insulated water bottle with cold water. "The filling area was not visible, and when the bottle was returned to me, there was no verbal warning," he stated. "I assumed it contained cold water, as requested."
Severe Injury and Emotional Trauma
The young girl's injury was significant enough that she was left unable to "eat or drink properly" following the incident. Muhammad and his wife, Alisah, described the emotional toll in their joint social media post, noting that their daughter has become "traumatized at the sight of her water bottle."
"Seeing her crying in pain and so frightened broke our heart," they wrote. Video footage shared by the family shows the distressed child crying in her father's lap as medical staff attend to her at the restaurant, with subsequent clips showing her refusing to drink from her bottle altogether.
Conflicting Accounts and Accountability
When questioned about the incident, Muhammad alleged that the staff member initially claimed he had requested hot water but later admitted to not hearing the request properly. "If not because of the staff member's complacency and negligence, this incident could have been avoided," he claimed.
However, Muhammad also acknowledged that he and his wife made a "mistake" by not checking the bottle's contents before their daughter drank from it. "We have learned from this experience," he said. "No parents would ever intentionally put their child in harm's way. We always try to check everything before giving them food or drinks, but accidents can still happen."
McDonald's Response and Safety Review
In a statement to media outlets, a McDonald's spokesperson confirmed the company is aware of the incident and taking it "seriously." "Our preliminary review indicates there was a misunderstanding at the point of service regarding the request for hot or cold water," the spokesperson said.
The fast-food chain has reached out to the family to offer assistance and support while reviewing the incident with the restaurant team. "The safety and well-being of our customers is our priority," the statement continued. "We are reviewing the incident to reinforce service procedures and clearer communication, particularly when handling hot items."
Parental Warning and Moving Forward
Muhammad offered a cautionary message to other parents, stating, "A painful reminder for parents too — always double-check drinks given to our little ones." His wife echoed this sentiment in comments, emphasizing that while they acknowledge their own oversight, such accidents can happen even to careful parents.
"Thankfully she is stable now," Muhammad added about his daughter's condition. "We really hope the outlet takes this seriously and improves checks so this doesn't happen to another child. A small mistake can cause big harm."
