Fast food is harmful: air passenger fined $1 for carrying undeclared burgers from McDonald's

A passenger traveling from Bali, Indonesia to Australia has been fined $1874 after two undeclared McMuffins were found in his luggage. CNN.

Photo: IStock

An unnamed traveler was fined $1874 after two undeclared McMuffins egg and beef sandwiches and a ham croissant were found in his luggage last week.

The incident comes just days after tough new biosecurity rules were introduced by Australian authorities after an outbreak of enteroviral vesicular stomatitis (foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)) in Indonesia spread to Bali, a popular destination for Australian tourists.

On the subject: US recalls sunscreen because it can cause blood cancer

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said a biosafety detector dog named Zinta found "a number of undeclared risk products" in a passenger's backpack, including fast food.

“This will be the most expensive Maccas meal this passenger has ever tasted,” said Murray Watt, head of agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

"This fine is twice the cost of an airfare to Bali, but I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia's strict biosecurity measures when recent findings suggest you will be caught," he said.

The statement went on to confirm that the passenger had been issued a "notice of infringement for failing to declare items with a potentially high biosecurity risk and providing a false and misleading document."

The withdrawn products before destruction are subject to check for presence of infection.

“Australia is FMD free and we want to keep it that way,” Watt added.

Last month, Australia's federal executive government announced a $9,8 million biosecurity package, with new measures implemented outside the country, including sanitary foot mats at all international airports and biosecurity sniffer dogs housed in both airports in Darwin and in Cairns. These measures came after the onset of a highly contagious disease that spreads through cattle in Indonesia.

Experts estimate that an outbreak in Australia could cause economic damage of up to $80 billion.

“Travelers arriving from Indonesia will be subject to much stricter biosecurity controls due to the presence of foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia,” the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said in a statement released on July 19.

“Breaking biosecurity regulations will constitute a breach of Australia's biosecurity laws and anyone found in breach could be issued a notice of up to $2664. Travelers entering Australia on temporary visas may have their travel documents cancelled, in which case they will be refused entry into Australia,” the statement said.

While relatively harmless to humans, foot-and-mouth disease causes painful blisters and lesions on the mouths and feet of artiodactyl animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and camels, which prevents the animals from eating and in some cases causes severe lameness and death.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

The disease can be carried by live animals, in meat and dairy products, and on clothes, shoes, and even luggage of people who have been in contact with infected animals.

“The impact of FMD on farmers is too painful to even think about,” Fiona Simson, president of the National Farmers Federation, said last month.

“But it’s not just about farmers. Losing $80 billion from Australia's GDP would be an economic disaster for everyone," she added.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Trump buried his ex-wife on a golf course: some suggest that this is an attempt to evade taxes

Coffee is good for memory: Harvard scientists told how to drink it to improve brain function

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.